title: The impact of a supplementary medication review and counselling service within the oncology outpatient setting.
abstract: The impact on the care of breast cancer patients, of a pharmacy technician-led medication review and counselling clinic, provided in an outpatient setting, was investigated using a controlled randomised study. Compared to the controls, clinic patients showed a significantly improved level of understanding of their chemotherapy support medication (95% CI for difference in mean knowledge rating scores=2.165-2.826, P<0.001) and a significant reduction in the median number of support items required (two compared to five in the control, P<0.001). This resulted in a significant reduction in mean medication expenditure per patient (26.70 vs 10.20 British Pound, 95% CI for the mean difference in cost 6.72 - 26.26 British Pound, P<0.001). The clinic was also associated with significant reductions in chemotherapy delays (P<0.001) and dose reductions due to side effects (P=0.003). Other benefits from the clinic were a reduction in pharmacy dispensing time and a highly significant reduction in pharmacy time spent resolving post-clinic prescription queries (P<0.001). Taking into account the initial technician training cost, the scheme represented an annual saving to the Trust of over 15,000 British Pound. The clinic serves as a model for those wishing to improve outpatient services to breast cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Worthing and Southlands Hospitals NHS Trust, Lyndhurst Road, Worthing, West Sussex, UK.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Read
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ladds
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rhodes
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Portlock
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D010596:Pharmacy Technicians / Q000193:education; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents