The Effect of Two Different Pharmacist-led Educations Provided to Patients with Colorectal Cancer Receiving an Oral...

To the best of our knowledge, no report on pharmacist-provided education to patients receiving oral chemotherapy agents in Iran has been published. This study was conducted to compare the effect of two education methods on the knowledge of patients with colorectal cancer who received capecitabine as an oral anticancer drug.

Eighty-four patients with colorectal cancer who have received capecitabine were included in the study; 42 patients received a booklet, and 42 other patients received the booklet in addition to a pharmacist-led face-to-face (FTF) education, which was designed based on the standard of MASCC Oral Agent Teaching Tool. Patients were assigned to the study groups using a stratified random sampling method. Patients' knowledge was evaluated in four categories (dosing, administration and method of use; common adverse effects; important adverse effects, and interactions; storage and disposal) by a researcher-developed questionnaire designed and standardized before patient enrollment. Patients' knowledge was assessed before and 3-6 weeks after the educational interventions using the questionnaire.

The mean knowledge score about capecitabine in both the groups has increased significantly through the study, 21.38 ± 2.57 vs. 17.5 ± 4.47 in the booklet-only group and 22.92 ± 1.45 vs. 16.23 ± 3.44 in the FTF-education-plus-booklet group. In the second group, the mean change of total knowledge score after the intervention was significantly higher compared with the booklet-only group (5.69 ± 3.30 vs. 3.88 ± 3.65, P < 0.001).

Both patient education methods were effective in increasing patients' drug-related knowledge. Although written educational methods like booklets could improve patients' knowledge, FTF education is more effective.