Determine the average score of skin exposure to chemotherapy drugs in oncology staffs at hospitals and health services of Shahid Sadoughi university of medical Sciences and health Services by DREAM method in 2015

Abstract

Introduction: Occupational dermal exposure to antineoplastic drugs is the one of the most important routes among healthcare staff. Several antineoplastic drugs have been classified as carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). This study investigated dermal exposure of oncology divisions staff to the anticancer drugs (ANDs) in hospitals of Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences.

Method: In this descriptive and correlational study, the use of DREAM method for determination dermal exposure in chemotherapy personnel was investigated in Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health Services. By assessment of probability and intensity emisson exposure, deposition exposour and transfer exposure for all of body parts calculated. Then, potential and actual exposure calculated and chemotherapy divisions classificated based on the DREAM average score, forthermore we assessed the correlation between various dermal exposure scores, occupational and demographical parameters.

Results: Maximum deposition dermal exposure (Mean=1.409, SD=0.127) was for the Baghaeepour division staff. Maximum transfer dermal exposure (Mean=3.500 , SD=0) was for the Imam Hassan division staff and maximum emmission dermal exposure (Mean=0.980 , SD=0.114) was for the Internal-1 division staff, respectively. The maximum potential and actual dermal exposure calculated (Mean= 5.133 , SD= 0) was for the Imam Hassan division staff and (Mean= 1.164 , SD= 0.152) ) for the Internal-1 division staff.

Conclusion: Depending on the findings although DREAM is a time-consuming and has somewhat complicated calculations to be used as a daily assessment tool, it can be used as an effective tool for initial assessment of the skin exposure in working environments.