Impact of Pharmacy Services on Gynaecology Chemotherapy Safety

Peking University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Gynaecological Oncology; Neoplasms

Treatments: Other: comprehensive pharmaceutical care; Other: Routine pharmaceutical services

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06826950

2024SF58 (Other Grant/Funding Number)

2024Y511-002

Details and patient eligibility

About

What was studied? We wanted to see whether having pharmacists closely involved in cancer care improves medication safety and reduces severe side effects for patients with gynecologic cancers (like ovarian or uterine cancer) during chemotherapy.

How was the study done?

Who participated? Patients receiving chemotherapy at Peking University First Hospital's Gynecologic Oncology Ward (September 2022-September 2024).

Two groups compared:

Standard care group: Pharmacists provided routine pharmaceutical services.

Full pharmacy care group: Pharmacists provided ongoing support, including:

Checking medications for safety.

Teaching patients how to manage side effects.

Answering questions about drugs.

Helping manage reactions like nausea or low white blood cells.

What was measured? Severe side effects (e.g., extreme nausea, appetite loss), how well doctors prescribed and monitored medications to boost white blood cells, and unplanned hospital stays.

Key findings:

Patients with full pharmacy care had:

Fewer severe side effects: Less extreme nausea, appetite loss, and dangerously low white blood cell counts.

Better management of blood cell-boosting medications: Doctors followed guidelines more closely, and patients received proper monitoring.

Fewer unplanned hospital visits: Likely due to better side effect prevention and early intervention.

Why does this matter?

For patients: Pharmacist support during chemotherapy may help you avoid severe side effects and reduce unexpected hospital stays.

For families: Knowing pharmacists are actively involved can provide reassurance about your loved one's medication safety.

For healthcare teams: Structured pharmacist collaboration improves adherence to treatment guidelines and patient outcomes.

Takeaway:

Full pharmacy care throughout chemotherapy helps protect patients' safety, reduces severe reactions, and supports smoother treatment journeys.

Enrollment: 629 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Patients diagnosed with gynaecologic malignancies such as ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, endometrial cancer, or gestational trophoblastic tumours.
• Patients who received one of the following chemotherapy regimens: taxane monotherapy or combination therapy, anthracycline monotherapy or combination therapy, platinum-based monotherapy or combination therapy. These chemotherapy regimens could be combined with targeted therapy or immunotherapy.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients treated with chemotherapy regimens outside those specified in the inclusion criteria.
• Patients who received only targeted therapy, immunotherapy, endocrine therapy, bone-modifying therapy, or combinations of these treatments.

Trial design

629 participants in 2 patient groups

Control group

Treatment:

Other: Routine pharmaceutical services

Intervention group

Treatment:

Other: comprehensive pharmaceutical care