Pilot Randomized Trial of a Pharmacy Intervention for Older Adults with Cancer

Conclusion.Integrating pharmacists into the care of older adults with cancer is feasible with encouraging preliminary efficacy for enhancing medication management and improving vaccination rates.Implications for Practice.Results of this study showed the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of an intervention integrating pharmacists into the care of older adults with cancer. Notably, patients assigned to the intervention had fewer discrepant medications and were more likely to acquire vaccinations for pneumonia and influenza. Importantly, this work represents the first randomized controlled trial involving the integration of pharmacists into the outpatient oncologic care of older adults with cancer. In the future, a larger randomized trial is needed to demonstrate the efficacy of this care model to enhance medication management and improve vaccination outcomes for older patients with cancer.

Source: The Oncologist - February 11, 2019 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Ryan D. Nipp, Margaret Ruddy, Charn-Xin Fuh, Mark L. Zangardi, Christine Chio, E. Bridget Kim, Barbara Kong Mui Li, Ying Long, Gayle C. Blouin, Daniel Lage, David P. Ryan, Joseph A. Greer, Areeȷ El-Jawahri, Jennifer S. Temel Tags: Symptom Management and Supportive Care, Health Outcomes and Economics of Cancer Care, Geriatric Oncology Source Type: research