Clinical Pharmacy Can Help Lower Adverse Drug Events in Patients With Cancer

Clinical pharmacy plays a crucial role in minimizing drug-related harm and optimizing patient care. In the context of cancer treatment, where patients are particularly vulnerable and the toxicity of injectable anticancer drugs is high, the implementation of clinical pharmacy services (CPS) can offer significant clinical benefits. A new review aimed to summarize the existing evidence regarding the impact of clinical pharmacy on patients receiving intravenous anticancer drugs.

To conduct this review, a comprehensive search was performed in the PubMed/Medline database, focusing on the period from January 2000 to December 2021. The search terms used included clinical pharmacy, pharmaceutical care, pharmacist, oncology, and chemotherapy. Studies were considered eligible if they reported on clinical pharmaceutical services provided to patients receiving intravenous chemotherapy and demonstrated a clinical and/or economic impact.

A total of 41 studies met the inclusion criteria. These studies reported various CPS interventions, including medication reconciliation, medication review, and pharmaceutical interviews with patients. However, it is worth noting that there was a limited number of randomized studies available (only 3 out of 41 studies). Among the randomized controlled trials, one study showed that pharmaceutical intervention significantly improved the quality of life of patients receiving injectable anticancer drugs when pharmaceutical care was provided.

Economical results indicated positive impacts of clinical pharmacy, with reported cost savings ranging from $3,112.87 to €249,844. Although most of the studies were non-comparative, they consistently highlighted the potential of clinical pharmacy in mitigating chemotherapy side effects, addressing drug-related problems, improving patients' quality of life and satisfaction, as well as positively impacting healthcare professionals involved in cancer care.

In conclusion, clinical pharmacy had the potential to reduce adverse drug events and improve patient outcomes in cancer care. However, further research is needed to strengthen the evidence base and evaluate the economic aspects of clinical pharmacy services. Robust and comprehensive evaluations will provide valuable support for the integration of clinical pharmacy into routine cancer care practice, ensuring optimal medication management and enhanced patient safety.

Reference:

Lattard C, Baudouin A, Larbre V, et al. Clinical and economic impact of clinical oncology pharmacy in cancer patients receiving injectable anticancer treatments: a systematic review [published online ahead of print, 2023 Feb 28]. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2023;10.1007/s00432-023-04630-4. doi:10.1007/s00432-023-04630-4