SACT Training: How Nurses Learn to Safely Administer IV Anticancer Therapy

Study Overview

This scoping review mapped how nurses are taught to administer intravenous systemic anticancer therapy (IV SACT) and where the evidence is strong or thin. From thousands of records screened, 20 studies (2010-2023) were included. Educational approaches ranged from classroom teaching and supervised clinical practice to simulation, virtual reality, and mobile apps. Four cross-cutting themes emerged: varied teaching methods, the benefit of interdisciplinary collaboration, uneven global coverage of research, and limited long-term re-assessment of competence.

Key Findings

Diverse modalities, limited rigor: Programs blend lectures, supervised practice, simulation/VR, and app-based learning, but few controlled trials test what works best, and skills re-validation is uncommon.

Safety emphasis: Errors in IV SACT can cause serious patient harm and occupational exposure, underscoring the need for structured onboarding and ongoing assessment.

Frameworks exist, adoption varies: Competency standards are available in many regions, yet implementation and periodic re-certification are inconsistent.

Interdisciplinary advantage: Co-design with oncology, pharmacy, education, and safety teams improves program quality but isn’t universal.

Evidence gaps: Minimal long-term outcomes (e.g., extravasation, dosing errors), sparse follow-up on skill retention, and very few comparative or randomized studies.

Implications

Use a blended model (simulation + supervised practice + digital reinforcement), anchored to recognized competency frameworks. Build in scheduled re-validation, track meaningful outcomes (patient harm events, near-misses, nurse exposure), and prioritize rigorous evaluations—ideally randomized or comparative designs—to identify what most improves safety, confidence, and skill retention.

Read More:https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0749208125001469?via%3Dihub 

Authors: Michelle O’Dowd; Siobhan O’Dowd; Geraldine Austin; Orlaith Hernon; Caitríona Duggan; Peter J. Carr