title: Pharmacoeconomic effect of compliance with pharmacist's intervention based on cancer chemotherapy regimens: a cohort study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is important for pharmacists to manage cancer chemotherapy regimens in order to achieve safe treatment. We examined whether there was a useful pharmacoeconomic benefit of compliance the exclusion criteria of neutropenia, and the importance of a pharmacist's intervention was considered.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective observational cohort study was conducted at a community-based medical center. Among 374 patients who received chemotherapy between April 2010 and March 2011, 108 patients developed neutropenia and pharmacists recommended suspension of chemotherapy. These patients were divided into a group in whom chemotherapy was suspended (complying group) and a group in whom it was continued (non-complying group). Then the relative dose intensity (RDI) was compared between the two groups, and medical expenses related to the treatment of neutropenia (neutropenia-related costs: NRC) were compared. Analysis was carried out from the perspective of the health insurance provider, so only the direct medical costs were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant difference of the RDI between a complying group (85.2 ± 10.0%) and a non-complying group (79.3 ± 15.0%) (P = 0.021). The average NRC per patient showed a significant difference between the two groups (complying group: 1,944 ± 412 dollars, non-complying group: 4,394 ± 837 dollars, P = 0.044). The economic effect over one year was 54,205 dollars.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present findings suggest that ensuring compliance with chemotherapy regimens (including the criteria for neutropenia) is effective from a pharmacoeconomic perspective. Accordingly, pharmacists should intervene as required to improve regimen compliance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, National Hospital Organization Kanazawa Medical Center, 1-1 Shimoishibiki-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-8650 Japan.|Department of Medicinal Informatics, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-8641 Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, National Hospital Organization Kanazawa Medical Center, 1-1 Shimoishibiki-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-8650 Japan.
authors.forename: Akimasa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yamatani
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, National Hospital Organization Kanazawa Medical Center, 1-1 Shimoishibiki-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-8650 Japan.
authors.forename: Hiromu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Funaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicinal Informatics, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-8641 Japan.
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miyamoto
keywords: Pharmacist intervention; Pharmacoeconomics; Regimen management
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