An Integrated Model to Improve Medication Reconciliation in Oncology: Prospective Interventional Study

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Pharmacology
• Health Informatics

Background:

• Accurate medication reconciliation is vital for patient safety, especially during care transitions.
• Community pharmacies (CPs) can play a key role in collecting comprehensive medication data, including conventional and supplementary drugs.
• Transitions in care pose risks for drug incompatibilities and adverse events.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a collaborative alliance between a cancer institute (IRST) and community pharmacies (CPs).
• To improve medication reconciliation for cancer patients undergoing treatment.
• To integrate CPs' IT platform with the cancer institute's electronic medical records.

Main Methods:

• Cancer patients selected participating CPs to complete a medication survey.
• Pharmacists collected information on home medication use, including conventional and nonconventional products.
• Collected data was transmitted via an integrated IT platform to the cancer institute for oncologist review.

Main Results:

• 66 CPs participated, providing data for 134 patients.
• Patients used an average of 5.9 home medications, with higher numbers in older age groups.
• 60% of patients used nonconventional products, with potential interactions identified.

Conclusions:

• The PROF-1 study successfully created an alliance between a cancer center and CPs.
• A new integrated IT platform was validated for improved medication reconciliation.
• This collaboration enhances the role of CPs in cancer care and patient safety.