Patients treated with anticancer drugs: Practices and expectations of community pharmacists

Introduction > The evolution of pharmacotherapeutic management of cancer patients makes essential the role of the community pharmacist through its management conducted in community pharmacy as well as its relationships with the hospital and primary care professionals. The objective of this work is to study this pharmacotherapeutic management, for all routes of administration considered. Methods > This observational study is based on a questionnaire and semi -structured interviews conducted with community pharmacists in contact with the Unite medicale ambulatoire de cancerologie (UMAC) of the University Hospital of Dijon. Results > The main objective of community pharmacists is to ensure that patients understand and comply with their treatment. Twenty-one percent of them have already implemented oral anticancer drug interviews. Sixty-five percent have partial information about the injectable treatments administered to their patients while only 3 % have complete knowledge. Sixty-nine percent of community pharmacists are satisfied with the documents sent by the UMAC (summary of drug treatments, pharmaceutical report, individualized pharmaceutical plan). However, the lack of information from hospital structures generally represents one of the main difficulties in the management of cancer patients by community pharmacists and coordination with other professionals. Discussion > The information and training of community pharmacists represent possible improvements for a better care and coordination between healthcare professionals. Some emerging practices, such as the implementation of oral anticancer drug interviews in community pharmacies and the participation of community pharmacists in primary care coordination organizations, also represent opportunities to strengthen their role in the management of cancer patients.