Pharmacist Intervention in Pediatric Cancer Care Benefits Patients, Hospital

Over the course of a year, pharmacist intervention in children’s cancer treatment both prevented consequential adverse drug events and saved money, according to an analysis of inpatients and outpatients at children’s hospital. Researchers published their findings online ahead of print in the Journal of Oncology Pharmacy Practice.

“Children with cancer may be one of the most vulnerable groups to drug-related adverse events because they possess characteristics of patients with cancer as well as pediatric patients,” explained a researcher team from Seoul, Korea.

To investigate the clinical and economic effect of pharmacist intervention in the care of pediatric hematology and oncology patients, researchers looked at records from interventions in inpatient and outpatient cancer care at a children’s hospital for the year 2017.

According to physician and pharmacist review, more than half of a total 2361 pharmacist interventions that year were “significant” (58.8%) and “very significant” (14.6%). Approximately 97% were accepted by the care team, according to the study.

From a hospital perspective of reducing the number of drugs prescribed, pharmacist intervention yielded a cost-benefit of US$28,705 and a cost-benefit ratio of 1.45:1, researchers reported. From a patient perspective of avoiding an adverse drug event, pharmacist intervention had a cost-benefit of $35,611 and a cost-benefit ratio of 1.55:1.

“Pharmacists’ intervention in the care of hematology and oncology pediatric patients was effective in preventing clinically significant adverse drug events and had a positive economic impact on the health care budget from both hospital and patient perspective,” researchers wrote.

Reference:
Kim HJ, Lee S, Lee YJ, et al. Clinical and economic impact of pharmacists' intervention on care of pediatric hematology and oncology patients [published online ahead of print December 21, 2021]. J Oncol Pharm Pract. doi:10.1177/10781552211068139