Questionaire for the research about practuse
Forty years ago, the role of pharmacy within oncological care looked very different from today. At that time, pharmacies were primarily responsible for supplying medicines. Their involvement was largely limited to the distribution of pharmaceutical products, without any significant role in the preparation of specialized therapies such as cytostatic infusions.
The preparation of these highly sensitive and potentially hazardous cancer treatments was mostly carried out by medical staff – primarily nurses, and to some extent physicians. These activities often took place under unsafe and unregulated conditions. Proper protective measures, such as safety cabinets, personal protective equipment, controlled environments, or standardized disposal procedures, were either unavailable or only inadequately implemented.
Additionally, the handling and disposal of residual materials and contaminated waste were problematic. Hazardous substances were frequently discarded without proper protocols, posing risks both to human health and the environment. Overall, the situation was characterized by a lack of safety awareness, poor training, insufficient infrastructure, and unregulated workflows.
At that time, we conducted a study to investigate these circumstances. We examined the working conditions, documented the associated health risks, and identified the absence of safety standards. Furthermore, we observed significant waste of resources — not only in terms of material losses due to improper handling, but also organizational inefficiencies that led to unnecessary waste of valuable medications and supplies.
Over the decades, substantial progress has been made. In many parts of the world today, the preparation of cytotoxic drugs is strictly assigned to pharmacies and highly trained pharmaceutical professionals. Modern practices now include controlled environments, specialized compounding facilities, occupational safety protocols, quality management systems, and regulated waste disposal. These improvements are now standard — at least in highly developed healthcare systems.
However, the global situation remains uncertain. Are there still regions or healthcare facilities where conditions resemble those of forty years ago? Are there still places where hazardous drugs are prepared without safeguards, where staff remain unprotected, and where disposal practices are inadequate? If such conditions still exist, it is essential to document them scientifically in order to support advocacy efforts and develop targeted recommendations for improvement.
After all these years, I have set myself the goal of conducting this study again — this time collaboratively, involving everyone who has knowledge of such conditions or who is willing to actively participate in data collection, documentation, and analysis.
I therefore invite all interested parties to join this initiative. Everyone who registers will receive a message in January 2026. After that, we will jointly develop the study design, ensuring that it is collaborative, scientifically sound, and inclusive.
Together, we can contribute to improving the safety, quality, and responsibility of cancer care worldwide.
