Impact of Clinical Pharmacy Services on Patient Management in the Chemotherapy Infusion Clinics: A 5-Year Study at a Comprehensive Cancer Center
Author(s)
Mashni, OK
Nazer, LH
Khalil, HZ
Dalbah, MI
Tuffaha, HW
Rumman, AT
Jaddoua, SM
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2021
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Background: Chemotherapy requires careful dosing and monitoring and is associated with numerous adverse events. There is limited data describing the impact of clinical pharmacists in the chemotherapy ambulatory setting. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of clinical pharmacy services on patient management in the adult chemotherapy infusion clinics. Methods: This was a 5-year retrospective study that utilized the pharmacy electronic documentation system to determine the type of interventions and adverse drug events (ADEs) reported by the clinical pharmacists in the chemotherapy infusion clinics. Interventions ...
View more >Background: Chemotherapy requires careful dosing and monitoring and is associated with numerous adverse events. There is limited data describing the impact of clinical pharmacists in the chemotherapy ambulatory setting. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of clinical pharmacy services on patient management in the adult chemotherapy infusion clinics. Methods: This was a 5-year retrospective study that utilized the pharmacy electronic documentation system to determine the type of interventions and adverse drug events (ADEs) reported by the clinical pharmacists in the chemotherapy infusion clinics. Interventions were described based on the type of intervention and medication involved. ADEs were evaluated based on the type of ADE, the suspected medication, and the required management. Results: During the study period, 3,279 interventions and 1,445 ADEs were reported. The most common interventions involved dose adjustments (51%), followed by addition (23%) or discontinuation (21%) of prescribed medications. Carboplatin (20%) and zoledronic acid (14%) were the most common medications that required pharmacist interventions. The most common types of ADEs were hematologic (22%) and infusion-related reactions (20%). Docetaxel was the most common medication associated with ADEs (20%). Among the reported ADEs, most required adding supportive care (44%), followed by adjusting chemotherapy doses (22%). Conclusion: Clinical pharmacy services at the chemotherapy infusion clinics play an important role in optimizing the chemotherapy regimens as well as identifying and managing ADEs. Future studies should be directed to measure the impact of these services on patient outcomes as well as, physicians and pharmacy operational workload and cost savings.
View less >
View more >Background: Chemotherapy requires careful dosing and monitoring and is associated with numerous adverse events. There is limited data describing the impact of clinical pharmacists in the chemotherapy ambulatory setting. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of clinical pharmacy services on patient management in the adult chemotherapy infusion clinics. Methods: This was a 5-year retrospective study that utilized the pharmacy electronic documentation system to determine the type of interventions and adverse drug events (ADEs) reported by the clinical pharmacists in the chemotherapy infusion clinics. Interventions were described based on the type of intervention and medication involved. ADEs were evaluated based on the type of ADE, the suspected medication, and the required management. Results: During the study period, 3,279 interventions and 1,445 ADEs were reported. The most common interventions involved dose adjustments (51%), followed by addition (23%) or discontinuation (21%) of prescribed medications. Carboplatin (20%) and zoledronic acid (14%) were the most common medications that required pharmacist interventions. The most common types of ADEs were hematologic (22%) and infusion-related reactions (20%). Docetaxel was the most common medication associated with ADEs (20%). Among the reported ADEs, most required adding supportive care (44%), followed by adjusting chemotherapy doses (22%). Conclusion: Clinical pharmacy services at the chemotherapy infusion clinics play an important role in optimizing the chemotherapy regimens as well as identifying and managing ADEs. Future studies should be directed to measure the impact of these services on patient outcomes as well as, physicians and pharmacy operational workload and cost savings.
View less >
Journal Title
Journal of Pharmacy Practice
Note
This publication has been entered in Griffith Research Online as an advanced online version.
Subject
Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences
Health services and systems
Public health
ambulatory care
chemotherapy
clinical pharmacist
impact
intervention