Framework for the assessment of compliance with practices for the safe handling of hazardous drugs

The Association paritaire pour la santé et la sécurité du travail du secteur affaires sociales (ASSTSAS) updated its Guide for the Safe Handling of Hazardous Drugs in the summer of 2021 (2nd edition). In order to support Quebec healthcare institutions in upgrading their practices, a self-assessment tool was created by the team from the Unité de recherche en pratique pharmaceutique (URPP) on REDCap. 28 hospitals representing 68 Quebec facilities took part in the conformity assessment exercise. Hospitals were asked to assess whether they considered themselves to be compliant with each of the 440 criteria and to indicate the corrective actions to be implemented. At the end of the exercise, each participant received an individualized report including their detailed compliance, their corrective actions and a comparison with overall compliance in Quebec. The process included the participation to a community of practice that periodically brought together pharmacists and nurses delegated by their hospital. The assessment tool was being used locally for updating practices and will help identify province-wide priorities.