The Relationship between Oncology Nurses’ Practice behaviors, Knowledge and Confidence regarding Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

Background: Chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy [CIPN] is a significant debilitating side effect resulting from the administration of neurotoxic chemotherapy agents. Aim: The present study aimed to determine the relationship between oncology nurses’ practice behaviors, knowledge and confidence regarding chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy. Subject and methods: A descriptive exploratory research study was carried out. Study sample: all available nurses(50) from the outpatient clinics of the oncology hospital in El-Mansoura University who were included in this study during four months from the starting of data collection using one tool; A structured interview questionnaire to assess nurses' practice behaviors, knowledge and confidence regarding Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy which includes four main parts: demographic characteristics, oncology nurses’ practice behaviors sheet,  oncology nurses’ assessment knowledge sheet and oncology nurses' self-confidence. Results: the result of the present study revealed that,62% of the studied nurses had unsatisfactory score of knowledge, all of nurses had satisfactory score of practice, and 66% of the studied nurses had high confidence score regarding chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy. Conclusion: The results concluded that there were no statistically significant relations between oncology nurses' Knowledge with practice behaviors and confidence,          there were positive correlation between nurses' knowledge and practice and there were negative correlation between knowledge and confidence but it did not reach a significant level.. Recommendations:  Hospital directors should offer educational practical workshops for oncology nurses regarding neurological tests especially for chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy and give nurses' confidence to applying neurological tests and follow –up regarding assess chemotherapeutic patients for peripheral neuropathy.