PCN5 - Evaluation of Pharmacists' Impact on Hematology Oncology Chemotherapy Orders

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the impact of the pharmacist interventions on hematology/oncology chemotherapy orders at a hematology pharmacist clinic using the Hatoum scale. It also aims to ascertain the patient experience after attending the hematology pharmacist clinic. The study was carried out at the Princess Margaret Hospital, a local tertiary public hospital in Hong Kong. Pharmacist interventions from hematology pharmacist clinic were collected over a 17-months period. Interventions were analyzed for intervention type, cause of drug-related problems, and acceptance rate. Each intervention was evaluated for its clinical significance by an independent hematologist and a board certified oncology pharmacist using the Hatoum scale. A patient experience survey on the hematology pharmacist clinic was conducted from September 2016 to February 2017 and subsequently analyzed. A total of 241 interventions were recorded. The most commonly identified drug-related problems were "no drug prescribed but clear indication" (23%), "necessary information missing on prescription" (21%), "inappropriate dilution concentration of chemotherapy drugs" (11%), and "inappropriate dosage" (10%). Acceptance rate of interventions was 99%. Respectively, 88% and 100% of the interventions were rated as significant using Hatoum scale by the hematologist and the board-certified oncology pharmacist. Twenty-eight completed patient experience surveys were obtained. Ninety-six percent of the patients were satisfied with the hematology pharmacist clinic and reported improved knowledge on chemotherapy, improved competency in handling side effect and better understanding on goals of therapy. The pharmacist interventions made in the hematology pharmacist clinic enhanced medication safety and delivery by performing clinical screening and making appropriate recommendations to care providers. This service model should be sustained to continuously benefit patient care.