title: [The Usefulness of Outpatient Pharmacy Services in Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Gastric Cancer].
abstract: Outpatient pharmacy services were established since June 2009 for educating about the signs and symptoms that required treatment, explaining how to receive an emergency service, improving a patient's adherence, and managing side effects. In this study, we evaluated the usefulness of one of our outpatient pharmacy services, which aims to help patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy including S-1 monotherapy for gastric cancer. In total, 34 and 80 patients received S-1 monotherapy without or with the intervention of outpatient pharmacy services, respectively; additionally, the median ages of the former and latter were 68 and 65 years, respectively. The treatment completion rates(82.4% versus 67.5%)were similar between the 2 groups(odds ratio[OR]: 0.45, 95% confidence interval[CI]: 0.16-1.21, p=0.106). Their emergency visit rates were 23.5% and 8.8%(OR: 0.31, 95% Cl: 0.10-0.94, p<0.05). Emergency hospitalization was required for 8.8% and 0% of the population from each group(OR: 0.00, 95% CI: not significant, p<0.05). We suggest that outpatient pharmacy services are useful because they are likely to improve a patient's safety.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Pharmacy, National Cancer Center Hospital East.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Horasawa
authors.forename: Reiko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Matsui
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawasumi
authors.forename: Shinichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saito
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D024382:Professional Role; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*