Jarunee Janpraparn. Role of pharmacist in the prevention of potential adverse drug reactions and medication errors in ambulatory oncology patients . Master's Degree(Clinical Pathology). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2007.
Role of pharmacist in the prevention of potential adverse drug reactions and medication errors in ambulatory oncology patients
Abstract:
The prospective, pre- and posttest study was performed to identify, prevent, resolve
and/or, reduce potential adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and medication errors (MEs) in
ambulatory oncology patients at Ramathibodi Hospital. The effect of education and
counseling provided by a research clinical pharmacist on the improvement of self-care
management and ADR reduction were also evaluated. The primary outcomes were the
reduction of the severity of ADRs and MEs while the secondary outcomes were the increment
in the patients’ knowledge about self-care management and adverse reaction of chemotherapy
regimen. During February to August 2006, 121 patients were recruited, most of whom were
female (60.3%) and most were diagnosed as having breast cancer (47.9%). The proportion of
patients who experienced ADRs was slightly decreased at the end of study (4.6%). There
were 469 and 326 actual ADRs at baseline and end of the study. The number of patients who
experienced actual ADRs including anorexia, mucositis, and nausea decreased more than
10% at the end of study. Sixty-three ADRs and 47 MEs were resolved by the research
clinical pharmacist’s interventions to physicians with approximately 98% acceptance rate.
Addition of drugs to prevent/resolve ADRs was the intervention mostly performed (34.9%).
Commission errors were 70.2%, of which incorrect dose was the most frequently identified
(25.5%). Patients’ knowledge of self-care management and adverse reaction of chemotherapy
regimen were increased at the end of study. Overall results indicated that clinical pharmacist
could have roles in identifying, preventing, resolving and/or, reducing ADRs and MEs in
ambulatory oncology patients as well as in providing education and counseling to such
patients to improve self-care management and reduce chemotherapy-induced adverse
reactions.