Impact of clinical pharmacy services on humanistic and economic outcomes in an oncology setup

Abstract

The aim of this study is to demonstrate the role of clinical pharmacy services within the cancer care team and its impact on humanistic and economic outcomes in Breast cancer (BC) and Head and Neck cancer (HNC) patients. newlineThe study was designed as a prospective, multi-centered interventional study conducted for a period of three years. The patients suffering from head and neck cancer (HNC) and breast cancer (BC) were recruited from Bharat cancer Hospital and Nirali memorial radiation center, Surat/Unique hospital, Surat/Wellness clinic, Surat after obtaining their informed consent. Patients were recruited into the control group (CG) and the intervention group (IG). The clinical pharmacy services (CPSs) were provided only to the IG patients. The humanistic outcome was measured by incorporating the EQ-5D-5L instrument to calculate quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) amongst both the groups. Patients were provided with the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire at the pre-determined intervals i.e. before the commencement of chemotherapy and then after every chemotherapy cycle till the completion of treatment. The economic outcome was measured by using cost-consequences analysis in which direct medical cost along with supportive care cost and direct nonmedical cost were calculated and compared in both the groups. The statistical analysis was carried out using descriptive analysis (chi-square test). The study was conducted at confidence interval 95% and statistical significance was set at p and#8804; 0.05. The significant difference in the humanistic and economic outcomes amongst CG and IG was assessed by using student s t-test using statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 22 for windows. newlineOut of 231 patients screened, a total of 209 patients fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled in the study and their follow up was taken till the completion of the study. Amongst 209 enrolled patients, 104 patients were suffering head and neck cancer (HNC) and 105 patients from breast cancer (BC).