Reviewing oncology clinical pharmacy service from the patient perspective

Abstract

Oncology clinical pharmacy service was first piloted in Hong Kong since 2008. Since then, different forms of oncology clinical pharmacy service were developed to meet the patient needs. The main objective of pharmacy service is to ensure the safety and efficacy of medication use in oncology patients. Protocol review and first cycle counselling were implemented in different clinical units. The effectiveness of the service was mainly measured by the coverage of service delivery. The service has not been measured from the patient’s point of view. This study was designed to look into the patients’ needs and provide insights for further service development. As patient satisfaction has never been measured in Hong Kong, a patient satisfaction survey was validated based on the local scenario and the oncology clinical pharmacy service specifically. Face validity and test-retest reliability were established first. The patient satisfaction survey was then being used in the later part of this study. A service extension was being tested in this study. Patients of the intervention group were interviewed by pharmacist upon every cycle of adjuvant and neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. Whereas, patients in the control group received standard pharmaceutical care with first cycle counselling only. Upon the end of the adjuvant chemotherapy, 3 surveys were filled in by both groups of patients, EORTC QLQ-C30 quality of life questionnaire, MSAS-SF anxiety level questionnaire and the patient satisfaction survey validated in the earlier part of the study. The results of the study revealed a few insights for the oncology clinical pharmacy service. (1) Oncology clinical pharmacy service are well appreciated by the patient and it can potentially help equip patients with better ability of self-care and result in better symptom control. (2) Extensive interviews can potentially create extra distress for patients. (3) A clearer pharmacist role can be established with more clinical pharmacy service. With the findings in the study, we can plan the service with a clearer direction. For example, we can consider designing an on-demand service model with information technology support in pharmaceutical care. It may solve the problem of patient self-concealment issue and provide support in a better accommodated manner.