Pharmacists' perceived knowledge of and confidence in dispensing oral antineoplastic agents

To assess community pharmacists' perceived confidence with counseling patients about oral antineoplastic agents, in identifying drug and/or herbal interactions with these agents, and with identifying adverse drug events.

Four hundred pharmacists were contacted and asked to take an anonymous survey regarding 11 oral antineoplastic agents (OAAs) and the oral antineoplastic market place in general.

With a response rate of 61.5%, there was variation with perceived overall confidence in counseling patients, identifying drug and/or herbal interactions (DHIs), and identifying adverse drug events (ADEs) with each oral antineoplastic agent (OAA). There was a trend toward more confidence in identifying DHI and ADE in those agents dispensed within the past 6 months. The majority of pharmacists reported the main barrier to counseling to be a lack of training or knowledge. Only about 22% of pharmacists who participated in this survey reported confidence in their ability to manage an influx of OAAs.

Overall, there was a lack of perceived confidence among pharmacists in counseling patients and identifying DHIs as well as with identifying ADEs with the 11 OAAs chosen for this survey. One of the main barriers identified was the lack of knowledge or training. These data provide preliminary information needed to launch educational programs in the student pharmacist curriculum (e.g., elective courses) and continuing education programs to improve overall confidence among pharmacists.