Impact of coronavirus of 2019 on the delivery of pharmacy services to patients with cancer: An international survey of oncology pharmacy practitioners

Chazan G 1 , Jupp J 2 , Bauters T 3 , Duncan N 4 , Weddle KJ 5 , Nomura H 6 Show all authors , O'Connor S 7 , Chan A 8 , Alkhudair N 9 , Alshamrani M 10 , Buie LW 11 , Chambers P 12 , Chieh TW 13 , DeRemer DL 14 , Duvivier F 15 , Katabalo D 16 , McFarlane T 17 , Mckavanagh D 18 , Mensah K 19 , Martinez EM 20 , Rowan G 21 , Sae-Teaw M 22 , Tadesse TA 23 , Weru I 24 , Alexander M 1

Affiliations 

  • 1 Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, 60078University of Melbourne, Australia
  • 2 Pharmacy Services, 3146Alberta Health Services, Canada
  • 3 Pharmacy Department, 60200Ghent University Hospital, Belgium
  • 4 Pharmacy Department, 156807Queen Elizabeth Hospital, UK
  • 5 311308Purdue University College of Pharmacy, USA
  • 6 Department of Data Science/Pharmacy, 444492National Cancer Center Hospital East, Japan
  • 7 Pharmacy Department, St Vincent's Hospital, Australia
  • 8 Department of Clinical Pharmacy Practice, 8788University of California, USA
  • 9 Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, 37850King Saud University, Saudi Arabia
  • 10 Pharmaceutical Care Services, 47798Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Saudi Arabia
  • 11 Pharmacy Department, 5803Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, USA
  • 12 4919University College London Hospital NHS Trust & University College London School of Pharmacy, UK
  • 13 Pharmacy Department, 69844University Malaya Medical Centre, Malaysia
  • 14 Department of Pharmacotherapy and Translational Research, 15505University of Florida College of Pharmacy, USA
  • 15 Pharmacy Department, 37458CHR Verviers, Belgium
  • 16 227206Bugando Medical Center, Tanzania
  • 17 8430University of Waterloo, Canada
  • 18 Office of the Chief Clinical Information Officer, Clinical Excellence Queensland, 1288Queensland Health, Australia
  • 19 Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, 98763Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana
  • 20 Pharmacy Service, 16689Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Spain
  • 21 Pharmacy Department, 3085Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Australia
  • 22 Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ubon Ratchathani University, Thailand
  • 23 School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, 37602Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
  • 24 Pharmacy Division, 285569Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya
J Oncol Pharm Pract, 2021 Oct 23.
PMID: 34693814 DOI: 10.1177/10781552211048892

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The coronavirus of 2019 pandemic has necessitated vast and rapid changes in the way oncology pharmacy services are delivered around the world.

METHODS/AIMS: An international survey of oncology pharmacists and technicians was conducted via the International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners and collaborating global pharmacy organisations to determine the impact that the coronavirus of 2019 has had on pharmacy service delivery, pharmacy practitioners and oncology practice.

RESULTS: The survey received 862 responses from 40 different countries from September to October 2020. The majority of respondents were pharmacists (n = 841, 97.6%), with 24% involved in the direct care of patients with the coronavirus of 2019. Of the survey participants, 55% increased their time working remotely, with remote activities including dispensing, patient assessment/follow-up and attending multi-disciplinary rounds. Respondents reported a 72% increase in the use of technology to perform remote patient interaction activities and that participation in educational meetings and quality improvement projects was reduced by 68% and 44%, respectively. Workforce impacts included altered working hours (50%), cancelled leave (48%) and forced leave/furloughing (30%). During the pandemic, respondents reported reduced access to intensive care (19%) and anti-cancer (15%) medications. In addition, 39% of respondents reported reduced access to personal protective equipment, including N95 masks for chemotherapy compounding. Almost half of respondents (49%) reported that cancer treatments were delayed or intervals were altered for patients being treated with curative intent. A third of practitioners (30%) believed that patient outcomes would be adversely impacted by changes to pharmacy services. Sixty-five percent of respondents reported impacts on their mental health, with 12% utilising support services.

CONCLUSION: The coronavirus of 2019 pandemic has altered the way oncology pharmacy services are delivered. These results demonstrate the adaptability of the oncology pharmacy profession and highlight the importance of formal evaluation of the varied practice models to determine the evidence-based practices that enhance pharmacy services and, thus, should be reinstated as soon as practical and reasonable.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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