Adverse effects of Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT): A study of patients and health care workers exposed to SACT

Background Despite the therapeutic effectiveness against cancer, Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT) causes a wide range of adverse effects (AEs) among both patients and healthcare workers (HCWs). Methods A retrospective cohort and comparative study were conducted among randomly selected patients (n = 400) and HCWs (n = 360), including nurses, pharmacists, doctors, attendants, and cleaning staff. AEs among HCWs were compared with those in the control group (n = 420). A 50-item structured questionnaire was used to assess the prevalence, frequency, severity, and distress caused by AEs. Results A higher mean number of AEs was reported by patients (17.49 ± 2.87) and exposure group nurses (4.53 ± 2.58). Headaches, dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, skin and ocular irritation, and hair loss are more common among both patients and HCWs. The prevalence of common AEs was associated with the selected patient characteristics, and 75% of patients reported more than sixteen of the twenty common AEs. Among HCWs, nurses in the exposure group reported reproductive-related AEs, and the prevalence of AEs varied significantly across the occupational categories. Conclusions The findings of the study indicate that SACT is associated with a broad spectrum of AEs affecting both patients and HCWs. Therefore, effective strategies are required to manage SACT-associated AEs among patients and to strengthen occupational health and safety measures for HCWs exposed to SACT.