Pharmacist-driven monitoring program viable in patients taking oral antineoplastic agents

A pharmacist monitoring program is feasible and useful for patients receiving oral antineoplastic agents, reports a recent study.

Fifty-one patients participated in this single-centre, prospective interventional study that designed and implemented an adherence and monitoring program. Of the scheduled patient contacts, 91 percent were completed. Pharmacy personnel administered the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) a total of 102 times.

Adherence was 100 percent based on patient reports, and overall satisfaction was 85 percent for patients and 100 percent for physicians. Fifty-one (98 percent) pharmacist recommendations were accepted. Total utilizations of healthcare resources were 14 or 5.2 per 1,000 patient days.

In this program, a pharmacist got in touch with patients twice between clinic visits for 3 months. During telephone conversations, patients were verbally screened for medication adherence and assessed for new or changing symptoms via ESAS as a signal of potential adverse events.

The researchers then measured the feasibility of the program through patient enrolment, completed proportion of scheduled contacts, and pharmacist time. Its utility was evaluated via patient adherence, satisfaction surveys, healthcare resource use, and pharmacist interventions (ie, patient education, adherence, assistance, and symptom management).

“Further research is needed to evaluate whether this program improves safety, adherence, and outcomes in patients using oral antineoplastic agents,” the researchers said.