Pharmacist involvement in paediatric oncology clinic lowers adverse events, readmission

The inclusion of a clinical oncology pharmacist into an ambulatory care pharmacy in paediatric haematology–oncology and transplant clinic results in reduced adverse events and fewer readmission into the hospital, a study has shown.

A total of 1,820 paediatric patient visits occurred during the 5 months of tenure, with the clinical oncology pharmacist performing 980 direct patient interviews and documenting 1,665 pharmacist interventions. Most of these interventions were review of medication history (n=404; 24 percent) and deferiprone dose adjustments (n=400; 24 percent).

The clinical oncology pharmacist also carried out genomic profiling interventions. This intervention was done to determine whether hydroxyurea treatment was effective in beta thalassemia patients undergoing hydroxyurea therapy (n=396; 23 percent).

“This is [a] new expansion of [the] pharmacist’s role especially in [an] underdeveloped country, considering the relevant clinical participation of [a] clinical oncology pharmacist into specialized clinics revealing through optimized therapy,” the authors said.

This study was conducted at the National Institute of Blood Diseases and Bone Marrow Transplantation hospital in Pakistan from 17 March 2019 to 16 July 2019. A clinical oncology pharmacist was made available at an ambulatory haematology–oncology and transplantation clinic, whose activities were observed by a resident bone marrow transplantation clinical pharmacist during visits of patients and their families. Eligible participants were paediatric patients with beta thalassemia major, post-transplant patients, and those on chemotherapy.

“Beta thalassemia patients, postbone marrow transplant, and leukaemia patients require long-term therapy with an intense care follow-up especially for paediatric haematology–oncology origin,” the authors said. “Emergence of side effects and noncompliance to therapy lead to reduced efficacy of medicines resulting in relapse of diseases.”