title: Characteristics of potential drug-related problems among oncology patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oncology patients are more at risk for drug related problems because of treatment with (combinations of) anticancer drugs, as they have a higher risk for organ failure or altered metabolism with progression of their disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to characterize and to evaluate the frequency of potential drug related problems (pDRPs) among oncology patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatient- and day-care centres for Internal and Pulmonary Medicine at the Deventer Hospital, Deventer, The Netherlands.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, descriptive, observational study was carried out from March 2010 to March 2011 at the Deventer Hospital, Deventer, The Netherlands. All patients older than 18 years receiving anticancer drugs prescribed by an internal medicineoncologist or pulmonologist-oncologist were included.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary outcome was the number and type of pDRPs according to Dutch guidelines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 546 patients with cancer, 952 pDRPs were identified, of which 474 were oncology-related. These were mainly drug interactions (IA) (246 IA in 157 patients) and potential contraindications (pCI) (201 pCI in 143 patients).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most identified pDRPs in cancer patients were IAs and pCIs and involved corticosteroids. The most frequently occurring oncology-related IAs were classified as minor or moderate levels of severity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy (E3.019), Deventer Hospital, PO-Box 5001, 7400 GC Deventer, The Netherlands. a.bulsink@skbwinterswijk.nl
authors.forename: Arjan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bulsink
authors.forename: Alex L T
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Imholz
authors.forename: Jacobus R B J
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Brouwers
authors.forename: Frank G A
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Jansman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004347:Drug Interactions; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D009426:Netherlands; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations