International Journal of Medical Discoveries

Handling chemotherapy agents poses a critical occupational risk for healthcare workers, particularly nurses and pharmacists. Although the health sector has implemented advanced security measures, these health care practitioners remain exposed and consequently face the risks of suffering acute and long-term health outcomes. This systematic review aimed at reviewing recent findings on risk factors, occupational risks, and the efficacy of preventive practices regarding the manipulation of chemotherapy drugs. For this purpose, peer-reviewed databases were searched systematically to identify studies that were published between 2018 to 2025. Studies were included based on their focus on examining occupational exposure, knowledge, attitudes, and adherence to safety protocols in nurses and pharmacists. Data was extracted and synthesized thematically, based on the findings and gaps in the literature. The occupational hazards included reproductive complications, acute symptoms, and chronic conditions. Factors that contributed to exposure included inadequate training, inconsistent use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and lack of infrastructure. Healthcare worker’s compliance with safety procedures varied, depending on the pressure of workload, organizational barriers, and knowledge deficits. Even though there are structured training programs and safety interventions that improve compliance, large gaps persist, especially in low-resource settings. Findings highlighted the need for an integrated approach in managing risk factors, which involves frequent training, investment in safety infrastructure, and building an effective organizational safety culture.