Pharmacy generated on-line cancer chemotherapy information system

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Pharmacy Informatics
• Medical Information Systems

Background:

• Cancer chemotherapy requires precise dosing and verification.
• Pharmacy departments need robust systems to manage complex chemotherapy regimens.
• Existing information systems may not adequately support specialized chemotherapy needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe an on-line Cancer Chemotherapy Information System.
• To supplement pharmacy dose verification capabilities for chemotherapy agents.
• To provide accessible drug and protocol information for safe administration.

Main Methods:

• Developed an on-line Cancer Chemotherapy Information System using IBM's MANTIS programming language.
• Structured the system with two main components: protocol summaries and drug monographs.
• Implemented multiple indexes (Investigational Group, Primary Site/Lesion, Drug) for protocol access.
• Enabled direct access to drug monographs from protocol summaries or the main menu.

Main Results:

• The system provides accessible protocol summaries and detailed drug monographs.
• Protocol summaries facilitate dosage and administration verification for entire regimens.
• Drug monographs offer critical information on dose adjustments for organ compromise, side effects, interactions, and handling.

Conclusions:

• The developed system enhances the accuracy and safety of cancer chemotherapy administration.
• It serves as a valuable tool for pharmacists in dose verification and patient management.
• The system integrates comprehensive information for optimizing chemotherapy regimens.