Background Safety and quality requirements with prescription, preparation and administration of cytotoxic drugs represent a challenge for all healthcare professionals. A major objective of centralised preparation is to improve the quality of the final product, and thus the safety of the patient.

Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the perception of clinical services towards the cytotoxic preparation unit (CPU) performance in the Moroccan Institute of Oncology, in the Paediatric Hospital, and in the Cheikh Zaid University Hospital in Rabat, in order to improve the quality, safety and efficiency of cytotoxic preparations.

Material and methods Data were collected by face-to-face structured interviews carried out by a pharmacy intern with doctors and nurses who provide clinical services in three hospitals in Rabat, using a questionnaire containing seven close-ended questions concerning the main aspects of CPU service. The interviewees attributed for each question a score (from 1 to 5) according to an ascending satisfaction scale.

Results The questionnaire was proposed to 40 healthcare professionals, of which 32 replied (participation rate of 80%). 87.5% were nurses (28/32) and 12.5% (4/32) were doctors. The perception of clinical services towards the CPU performance was generally satisfactory and comparable in the three establishments. Seventy-five per cent of the interviewees were very satisfied with the availability and cooperation of the pharmacy’s professionals. The labels and packaging of cytotoxic preparations were satisfactory for 60% of participants, while delivery time and drugs dispensibility were judged as satisfactory by only 25% of the interviews. Forty-three per cent of professionals were somewhat satisfied towards the overall service quality. Analysis of the low satisfaction rate concerning delivery time has shown that the time of arrival of prescriptions to the pharmacy and transfer of preparations to clinical services was too long. Concerning drugs dispensibility, the problem is caused mainly by stock rupture. In order to improve the CPU service, the delivery time to the clinical services should be reduced and a better management of drugs stock is a necessity.

Conclusion In the quest for optimal quality and patient safety, an external evaluation of the CPU by its clients is essential. It is also necessary to identify the causes of dissatisfaction and allow improvement by implementing corrective and preventive measures.

No conflict of interest