Advances in oncology pharmacy practice

Nepal, a low-middle-income country, is relatively new to clinical pharmacy. Although the program started in 2000 with several universities running it as of today, the effectiveness of this program has been under discussion since its inception regarding its syllabus, practical issues, clinical postings, and importance in hospital settings. In this commentary, we share our 14 days of experience of a clinical clerkship period carried out under a curriculum of a university constituent school in an oncology-based hospital with a clinical pharmacy department providing clinical pharmacy services.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Clinical clerkship at an oncology hospital based on the curriculum of a clinical pharmacy program from a university belonging to low-middle-income country: Insights from a pharmacy program experience

Pathak

Basyal

2023

“…The role of the pharmacist in ambulatory oncology care in the United States of America (USA) has been described and analysed. 5,6 The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists in union with the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association (ASHP-HOPA) developed guidelines for the place of pharmacy technicians in ambulatory oncology pharmacy 7 due to the lack of evidence-based literature. Some of the recommendations are appropriate for the NHS and a Beveridge model of healthcare system, but most relate to the healthcare system currently embedded in the USA.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Implications of a technician-led pharmacy service on a day case unit in a tertiary oncology centre

Brown¹,

Finch

2022

Introduction Medicines Management Technicians have been shown to be an underused resource in medicines optimisation and medicines waste. In the United Kingdom, there are national recommendations for the clinical pharmacy service in cancer services ambulatory units, despite these recommendations, there was no clinical pharmacy service on the day case unit at a specialist tertiary centre in England. A lot of the patient pathways had been in place for many years and had not progressed with the changes in the clinical pathways. The main objectives of this study were to analyse how a medicines management technician could reduce medicines waste, improve the current pathway, increase medicines optimisation and ultimately improve the patient experience in an oncology day case unit at a specialist tertiary centre in England. Methods A prospective mixed methods study was carried out at Weston Park Hospital. Descriptive statistical analysis was conducted on the quantitative data collected, and thematic analysis was carried out on the qualitative data collected by questionnaire to staff members and patients. Results This study has shown that a medicines management technician can complete some of the tasks more traditionally done by the chemotherapy nurses on the day case unit, increasing their capacity for more clinically appropriate tasks. A medicines management technician can work as part of the wider multidisciplinary team on a day case unit contributing to medicines optimisation and cost savings for the oncology directorate. Conclusions This study has shown that a medicines management technician can act as a valued member of the wider multidisciplinary team, improving communication and patient pathways, improving medicines optimisation and contributing to cost saving initiatives. Further studies are required to assess whether a medicines management technician role can be of the same value on a haematology day case unit.

“…Additionally, the literature contains many examples of how oncology pharmacists are involved in patient or caregiver education and in the development of strategies for safe and optimal use of antineoplastics. 19 It was determined to utilize oncology clinic pharmacists to incorporate additional education and follow-up for patients receiving ICPI therapy. This article aims to provide details on the development, implementation, and evaluation of a pharmacist-driven program to increase early detection and management of irAEs by ensuring patient education and proactive monitoring of ICPI toxicities.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Expansion of pharmacist clinical services to optimize the management of immune checkpoint inhibitor toxicities

Renna

Dow

Bergsbaken

et al. 2019

Introduction: The development of immune checkpoint inhibitors has revolutionized cancer treatment and is now a part of the treatment paradigm for several malignancies. Although immune checkpoint inhibitors are generally well tolerated, treatment is associated with immune-related adverse events, some serious and potentially life threatening. Early identification and prompt appropriate management of immune-related adverse events are crucial to prevent morbidity and mortality. The complexity and severity of immune-related adverse events require interdisciplinary collaboration to optimize care. Patient and caregiver education and continued communication between patients and members of the oncology care team are vital for timely recognition and successful management of immune-related adverse events. The objective of this program is to provide a proof of concept; a pharmacist-led immune checkpoint inhibitor management program will increase early recognition and management of immune-related adverse events through patient and caregiver education and proactively assessing patients for toxicities. Methods: At the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, we developed and implemented a pharmacist-driven program, referred to as the immune checkpoint inhibitor program, which aimed to ensure patient and caregiver education and continuous monitoring of immune-related adverse events. This program utilized pharmacist-patient encounters to improve patient and caregiver education and follow-up monitoring. The design and implementation are detailed. Pharmacist interventions and patient outcomes were evaluated. Results: At interim analysis, 47 patients were enrolled in the program and pharmacists completed 34 interventions on 26 patients. Pharmacists are well positioned to educate patients and caregivers on immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy and provide proactive monitoring to detect immune-related adverse events. We hypothesize that the interventions made by pharmacist may lead to earlier recognition and treatment of immune-related adverse events. Keywords Immune checkpoint inhibitor toxicities, immune-related adverse events, management of immunotherapy toxicities, pharmacy clinical services Date