570P Implementation and evaluation of medicine & therapeutic information service by clinical pharmacists at a private cancer center

Abstract

Background This study was conducted to explore the role of clinical pharmacists in providing medicine & therapeutic information (MTI) service at a private cancer center. Methods It was a prospective study conducted for a period of 3 years after implementation of MTI service as an integral part of oncology pharmacy services. The MTI queries were received during ward rounds, at ambulatory care and via telephone by clinical pharmacists. All the MTI requests were reviewed and answered to the concerned requester(s). Answered MTI requests were electronically documented in the hospital MTI database and analyzed further. Results A total of 484 MTI requests were received by clinical pharmacists during period of Aug 2013 to June 2016. Majority of MTI queries were requested by radiation oncologists (27.2%) followed by medical oncologists (27.2%), general physicians (14.04%), oncologists’ assistants (11.7%), ambulatory care nurses (8.6%), in-patient nurses (5.1%) and patients & care takers (6.6%). Majority of the MTI queries were asked for the purpose of improving patient care (48.3%) followed by to update knowledge (30.9%), as training sessions to nurses (6.6%), as ward seminars to clinicians (5.5%) and as ward & ambulatory care “Wall Posters” for the knowledge of health care professionals of the hospital (3.3%). Most of the MTI requests by oncologists, physicians and oncologists’ assistants were made during daily ward rounds (42.1%) and via telephone (19.8%). The most common categories of MTI were adverse drug reactions & its management (21.4%) followed by dosage adjustments of chemotherapy and biologicals (15.5%), supportive care related (14.6%), contraindications (14%), drug- drug interactions (11.9%), management of co-morbidities (7.8%), chemotherapy selection in special populations (4.5%). Conclusions The provision of MTI added value to quality use of anti-cancer medicines at study hospital. We could explore the potential role of clinical pharmacists in training nursing staff on safe handling of anti-cancer agents. MTI should be essential in the cancer centers for improving patient care and knowledge of practioners and practioners in training. Legal entity responsible for the study Himanshu Patel Funding N/A Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.