Generic placeholder image

Current Women`s Health Reviews

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1573-4048
ISSN (Online): 1875-6581

Review Article

Contribution of Oncology Pharmacists in Cancer Care: A Need for Quality Care

Author(s): Kala Bahadur Rawal, Uday Venkat Mateti*, Vijith Shetty, Shashidhara Chakrachodi Shastry, Juno Jerold Joel and Shraddha Shetty

Volume 19, Issue 1, 2023

Published on: 25 March, 2022

Article ID: e130122200215 Pages: 7

DOI: 10.2174/1573404818666220113124438

Price: $65

Abstract

Cancer is known as a disease with a high morbidity and mortality rate. There are several short-term and long-term complications of cancer, leading to poor quality of life. Cancer in advanced stage and malignant tumors requiring a multisystem involvement makes the treatment challenging. The diverse health impact of cancer requires a multidisciplinary approach for treatment. The oncology pharmacy has facilitated a revolutionary approach for preparing and training specialised pharmacists to deal with a variety of health challenges faced by cancer patients. Oncology pharmacists or oncopharmacists are the experts in designing drug therapy and individualizing it in accordance with the requirements. The conventional and novel role of pharmacists in clinical pharmacy practice is documented to positively impact the health of cancer patients, including cancer survivors. Hence, this review tries to summarize the potential role of oncopharmacists.

Keywords: Cancer care, specialized pharmacist, clinical practice, evidence-based care, oncology pharmacist, therapy.

Graphical Abstract

[1]
What is cancer? Available from: https://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/cancer-basics/what-cancer (Accessed 20 February 2021).
[2]
Cancer stat facts: Cancer of any site. Available from: https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/all.html (Accessed 20 February 2021).
[3]
Mathur P, Sathishkumar K, Chaturvedi M, et al. Cancer statistics, 2020: Report from National Cancer Registry Programme, India. JCO Glob Oncol 2020; 6(6): 1063-75.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1200/GO.20.00122] [PMID: 32673076]
[4]
Takiar R, Jayant K. A model approach to calculate cancer prevalence from 5 year survival data for selected cancer sites in India. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2013; 14(11): 6899-903.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2013.14.11.6899] [PMID: 24377623]
[5]
Holle LM, Harris CS, Chan A, et al. Pharmacists’ roles in oncology pharmacy services: Results of a global survey. J Oncol Pharm Pract 2017; 23(3): 185-94.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1078155216629827] [PMID: 26854267]
[6]
Ma C. Role of pharmacists in optimizing the use of anticancer drugs in the clinical setting. Integr Pharm Res Pract 2014; 3: 11-24.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/IPRP.S40428]
[7]
Duarte NC, Barbosa CR, Tavares MG, Dias LP, Souza RN, Moriel P. Clinical oncology pharmacist: Effective contribution to patient safety. J Oncol Pharm Pract 2019; 25(7): 1665-74.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1078155218807748] [PMID: 30348073]
[8]
Pharmacist role in patient safety. 2019. Available from: https://psnet.ahrq.gov/perspective/pharmacist-role-patient-safety (Accessed 11 January 2021).
[9]
Gnjidic D, Hilmer SN, Blyth FM, et al. Polypharmacy cutoff and outcomes: Five or more medicines were used to identify community-dwelling older men at risk of different adverse outcomes. J Clin Epidemiol 2012; 65(9): 989-95.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2012.02.018] [PMID: 22742913]
[10]
Turner JP, Shakib S, Singhal N, et al. Prevalence and factors associated with polypharmacy in older people with cancer. Support Care Cancer 2014; 22(7): 1727-34.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00520-014-2171-x] [PMID: 24584682]
[11]
Nandakumar UP, Joel JJ. Oncopharmacists: The game changers in cancer therapy. J Young Pharmacists 2020; 12(1): 15-7.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.5530/jyp.2020.12.4]
[12]
Patient safety definition from WHO. Available from: https://www.who.int/teams/integrated-health-services/patient-safety/about (Accessed 10 February 2021).
[13]
Tezcan S, İzzettin FV, Sancar M, Turhal NS, Yumuk PF. Role of clinical oncology pharmacist in determination of pharmaceutical care needs in patients with colorectal cancer. Eur J Hosp Pharm Sci Pract 2018; 25(e1): e17-20.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/ejhpharm-2016-001188] [PMID: 31157061]
[14]
Roy D, Shanfar I, Shenoy P, Chand S, Nandakumar UP, Bharathraj KC. Drug-related problems among chronic kidney disease patients: A clinical pharmacist led study. Int J Pharm Res 2020; 12(4): 79-84.
[15]
Mansur JM. Medication safety systems and the important role of pharmacists. Drugs Aging 2016; 33(3): 213-21.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40266-016-0358-1] [PMID: 26932714]
[16]
Bertsch NS, Bindler RJ, Wilson PL, Kim AP, Ward B. Medication therapy management for patients receiving oral chemotherapy agents at a community oncology center: A pilot study. Hosp Pharm 2016; 51(9): 721-9.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1310/hpj5109-721] [PMID: 27803501]
[17]
Lukali V, Michelo C. Factors associated with irrational drug use at a District Hospital in Zambia: Patient record-based observations. Med J Zambia 2015; 42(1): 25-30.
[18]
Holle LM, Boehnke Michaud L. Oncology pharmacists in health care delivery: Vital members of the cancer care team. J Oncol Pract 2014; 10(3): e142-5.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1200/JOP.2013.001257] [PMID: 24618076]
[19]
Walter C, Mellor JD, Rice C, et al. Impact of a specialist clinical cancer pharmacist at a multidisciplinary lung cancer clinic. Asia Pac J Clin Oncol 2016; 12(3): e367-74.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ajco.12267] [PMID: 25227909]
[20]
Chung C, Collins A, Cui N. Development and implementation of an interdisciplinary oncology program in a community hospital. Am J Health Syst Pharm 2011; 68(18): 1740-7.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.2146/ajhp100626] [PMID: 21880891]
[21]
Birand N, Boşnak AS, Diker Ö, Abdikarim A, Başgut B. The role of the pharmacist in improving medication beliefs and adherence in cancer patients. J Oncol Pharm Pract 2019; 25(8): 1916-26.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1078155219831377] [PMID: 30786821]
[22]
Moss A, Won K, Weber L. Medication therapy management in the outpatient cancer center. Hematol Oncol Pharm 2012; 2(3): 103-7.
[23]
Lin Q, Wang G, Ma G, Shen Q. The role of pharmaceutical care in the oncology department. Eur J Hosp Pharm Sci Pract 2015; 22: 128-31.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/ejhpharm-2014-000591]
[24]
Dang CC, Amiruddin M, Lai SS, Low CF, Chan SY. An emerging role of pharmacist in pre-chemotherapy counseling among breast cancer patients. Indian J Pharm Sci 2017; 79(2): 294-302.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/pharmaceutical-sciences.1000228]
[25]
Blaschke TF, Osterberg L, Vrijens B, Urquhart J. Adherence to medications: Insights arising from studies on the unreliable link between prescribed and actual drug dosing histories. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol 2012; 52: 275-301.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev-pharmtox-011711-113247] [PMID: 21942628]
[26]
Ramesh A, Rajanandh MG, Thanmayee S, Salagha MG, Suresh S, Srinivas GKS. Impact of patient counseling on medication adherence, beliefs and satisfaction about oral chemotherapies in patients with metastatic cancer at a super specialty hospital. J Cancer Res 2015; 11(3): 128-35.
[27]
Ruddy K, Mayer E, Partridge A. Patient adherence and persistence with oral anticancer treatment. CA Cancer J Clin 2009; 59(1): 56-66.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3322/caac.20004] [PMID: 19147869]
[28]
The Role of hematology/oncology pharmacists. Hematology/oncology pharmacist association 2014. Available from: https://www.hoparx.org/images/hopa/advocacy/Access-to-pharmacists-care/HOPA_About_Hem_Onc_Pharmacist_Issue_Brief_FINAL.pdf (Accessed 21 February 2021).
[29]
Hébuterne X, Lemarié E, Michallet M, de Montreuil CB, Schneider SM, Goldwasser F. Prevalence of malnutrition and current use of nutrition support in patients with cancer. J Parenter Enteral Nutr 2014; 38(2): 196-204.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0148607113502674] [PMID: 24748626]
[30]
de Las Peñas R, Majem M, Perez-Altozano J, et al. SEOM clinical guidelines on nutrition in cancer patients (2018). Clin Transl Oncol 2019; 21(1): 87-93.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12094-018-02009-3] [PMID: 30617923]
[31]
Caccialanza R, Pedrazzoli P, Cereda E, et al. Nutritional support in cancer patients: A position paper from the Italian Society of Medical Oncology (AIOM) and the Italian Society of Artificial Nutrition and Metabolism (SINPE). J Cancer 2016; 7(2): 131-5.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.7150/jca.13818] [PMID: 26819635]
[32]
Palliative care in cancer. National institute of cancer. Available from: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/advanced-cancer/care-choices/palliative-care-fact-sheet#what-is-palliative-care (Accessed 05 February 2021).
[33]
Crul M, Oosterhof P. The oncology pharmacist as part of the palliative treatment team. Int J Pharm Pract 2020; 28(1): 92-6.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ijpp.12583] [PMID: 31576620]
[34]
Colombo LRP, Aguiar PM, Lima TM, Storpirtis S. The effects of pharmacist interventions on adult outpatients with cancer: A systematic review. J Clin Pharm Ther 2017; 42(4): 414-24.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jcpt.12562] [PMID: 28556392]
[35]
Eades CE, Ferguson JS, O’Carroll RE. Public health in community pharmacy: A systematic review of pharmacist and consumer views. BMC Public Health 2011; 11: 582.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-11-582] [PMID: 21777456]
[36]
Patel H, Gurumurthy P. Implementation and evaluation of medicine and therapeutic information service by clinical pharmacists in oncology care setting. J Oncol Pharm Pract 2019; 25(1): 60-7.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1078155217727141] [PMID: 28841101]
[37]
Dowd M. The role of specialty pharmacy in medication adherence. 2016. Available from: https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/the-role-of-specialty-pharmacy-in-medication-adherence (Accessed 15 March 2021).
[38]
Tailored pharmacy-based interventions to improve medication adherence. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/pubs/medication-adherence.htm (Accessed 15 March 2021).
[39]
Tanaka K, Hori A, Tachi T, et al. Impact of pharmacist counseling on reducing instances of adverse events that can affect the quality of life of chemotherapy outpatients with breast cancer. J Pharm Health Care Sci 2018; 4: 9.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40780-018-0105-3] [PMID: 29736254]
[40]
Farrag DK, Sabri NA, Tawfik AS, Shaheen SM. Evaluation of the clinical effect of pharmacist intervention. Eur J Oncol Pharm 2020; 3(1): e23.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/OP9.0000000000000023]
[41]
North RT, Harvey VJ, Cox LC, Ryan SN. Medical resource utilization for administration of trastuzumab in a New Zealand oncology outpatient setting: A time and motion study. Clinicoecon Outcomes Res 2015; 7: 423-30.
[PMID: 26251623]
[42]
Mackler E, Segal EM, Muluneh B, Jeffers K, Carmichael J. 2018 Hematology/oncology pharmacist association best practices for the management of oral oncolytic therapy: Pharmacy practice standard. J Oncol Pract 2019; 15(4): e346-55.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1200/JOP.18.00581] [PMID: 30860937]
[43]
Vinks TH, de Koning FH, de Lange TM, Egberts TC. Identification of potential drug-related problems in the elderly: The role of the community pharmacist. Pharm World Sci 2006; 28(1): 33-8.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11096-005-4213-4] [PMID: 16703267]
[44]
Pullinger W, Franklin BD. Pharmacists’ documentation in patients’ hospital health records: Issues and educational implications. Int J Pharm Pract 2010; 18(2): 108-15.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1211/ijpp.18.02.0006] [PMID: 20441120]
[45]
Matzke GR. Pharmacist participation in health policy development. Am J Health Syst Pharm 2016; 73(3): 107.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.2146/ajhp150731] [PMID: 26796902]
[46]
Martini N, Basdew K, Kammona A, et al. Pharmacists’ views on and experiences with bowel cancer screening kits in Auckland, New Zealand. Int J Pharm Pract 2014; 22(4): 257-64.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ijpp.12074] [PMID: 24118479]
[47]
Chow MC, Chambers P, Singleton G, et al. Global changes to the chemotherapy service during the covid-19 pandemic. J Oncol Pharm Pract 2021; 27(5): 1073-9.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/10781552211015767] [PMID: 33983080]
[48]
Visacri MB, Figueiredo IV, Lima TM. Role of pharmacist during the COVID-19 pandemic: A scoping review. Res Social Adm Pharm 2021; 17(1): 1799-806.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2020.07.003] [PMID: 33317760]
[49]
Pourroy B, Tournamille JF, Bardin C, et al. Providing oncology pharmacy services during the coronavirus pandemic: French Society for Oncology Pharmacy (Société Francaise de Pharmacie Oncologique [SFPO]) Guidelines. JCO Oncol Pract 2020; 16(11): e1282-90.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1200/OP.20.00295] [PMID: 32539650]
[50]
Wang D, Liu Y, Zeng F, et al. Evaluation of the role and usefulness of clinical pharmacists at the Fangcang Hospital during COVID-19 outbreak. Int J Clin Pract 2021; 75(8): e14271.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ijcp.14271] [PMID: 33894041]

Rights & Permissions Print Cite
© 2024 Bentham Science Publishers | Privacy Policy