Transcript Document

Service evaluation assessing the effectiveness
of pharmacist input to a chemotherapy unit.
Zaslona FL, Abedin L, Sim Mutch L
Laurel Suite, Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport
Introduction
Drug counselling has long been an integral part of medicines
management. Chemotherapy outpatients will receive new
medications and various amendments through their care.
Efficient pharmacist counselling is essential to reduce the
prevalence of side effects and are a pervasive patient safety issue.
(1)
Results
Do you prefer your prescriptions to be dispensed on the Laurel suite
or to be collected from the main pharmacy?
Laurel Suite
100%
Laurel suite satellite pharmacy
Main Pharmacy
0%
Do your medication queries get answered in a timely manner with full
explanation by your pharmacist on the Laurel Suite?
100
Aims
A satellite pharmacy was set up on the chemotherapy unit
allowing continuous pharmacy input. The aim was to increase
patient-pharmacist interaction utilising the pharmacy skill set,
assessing the incidence of side effects and optimise treatment
care; ultimately improving patient experience and concordance.
The objectives were set to establish the effectiveness of a satellite
pharmacy evaluating patient preference and quality of care
comparable to the main hospital pharmacy service.
Methods
A questionnaire was constructed collecting data from 50 patients
using the service. The service evaluation composed of 5 questions
with a score system grading from one to five. The questionnaires
were answered anonymously and completed during a treatment
appointment.
80
60
Percentage of
patients
40
20
0
Strongly
Disagree
2
3
4
Strongly
Agree
Dispensing on the satellite unit
Do you feel comfortable to ask your pharmacist for any advice
regarding your chemotherapy?
1
(strongly
Disagree)
2
3
4
5
(strongly
Agree)
-
-
-
5%
95%
Pharmacist working on the unit
Do you feel your supportive medications are tailored suitably to your
needs? Has the hospital pharmacist helped you achieve this?
Strongly Disagree
2
3
4
Questionnaire
Strongly Agree
Pharmacist counselling on the clinic
Laurel suite chemotherapy unit
Questionnaire – Patient perception of pharmacist input on the laurel suite.
Question One:
Do you prefer your prescriptions to be dispensed on the Laurel suite or to be collected from the main
pharmacy?
Laurel Suite
Main Pharmacy
Question Two:
Do your medication queries get answered in a timely manner with full explanation by your pharmacist on the
Laurel Suite?
1 (strongly disagree)
2
3
4
Five (Strongly Agree)
Do your medication queries get answered in a timely manner with full
explanation by your pharmacist on the Laurel Suite?
1
(strongly
Disagree)
2
3
4
5
(strongly
Agree)
-
-
-
10%
90%
Question Three:
Do you feel comfortable to ask your pharmacist for any advice regarding your chemotherapy?
1 (strongly disagree)
2
3
4
Five (Strongly Agree)
Results:
Question Four:
Do you feel your support medications are tailored suitably to your needs? Has the pharmacist helped you
achieve this?
1 (strongly disagree)
2
3
4
Five (Strongly Agree)
Question Five:
Do you feel you get a suitable explanation of your medications and the possible side effects by your
pharmacist?
1 (strongly disagree)
2
3
4
Pharmacy counselling role on the Laurel
suite:
Five (Strongly Agree)
Any other comments:
Thank you for your time.
Patient comments
•
•
•
•
•
Medicines reconciliation
Medication counselling
Phone advice/assessment
Toxicity assessment
Prescribing supportive medication
‘The pharmacy set up is
brilliant. It allows a good,
close relationship between
staff and patient, all issues
are resolved efficiently and
quickly’
‘With the pharmacist on site,
all questions are answered
‘The personal touch of seeing the
same pharmacist every treatment
immediately whereas
cycle makes a very positive
queueing at the pharmacy
difference. You feel that they know
would not necessarily give you
you and are more aware of specific
the immediate answers you
problems’
require’
‘Previous experience of waiting
‘Fabulous
a full day before discharge
staff….absolute
whilst the main pharmacy
dispensed medication resulted in
excellence’
my very strong preference for
‘A wonderful service.
the laurel suite approach’
A personal service’
‘The guaranteed
continuity of this personal
service is important to
the patient and dealing
with the pharmacist
directly is a BIG plus’
•
•
•
•
Prescriptions dispensed on the laurel suite provides a desirable service
Treatment of side effects are managed well with a pharmacist based on the unit
Advice is readily available when required
Treatment of side effects can be done so whilst patient is receiving chemotherapy
Conclusion
Implementation of the satellite pharmacy has proven favorable.
All patients preferred to receive prescriptions on the
chemotherapy unit expressing a high quality of service with
regards to their treatment plan. A highlighted benefit from the
satellite pharmacy was the access of pharmacist input to tailor
and prescribe medications dependent upon patient specific
needs, enabling a more tolerable cancer journey.
Chemotherapy patients are both high risk and high cost. Effective
pharmacist counselling can increase medication adherence and
suitability reducing potential side effects and delays in treatment.
References
1) Schnipper J, Kirwin J, Cotugno M et al. Role of Pharmacist Counselling in Preventing Adverse Drug Events After Hospitalization. Archive of
Internal Medicine. 2006 Vol.166 No.5