Effect of Outpatient Chemotherapy on Patients

—From Patient Questionnaire Survey—

Abstract

The number of medical facilities conducting outpatient chemotherapy is increasing, and it is becoming quite normal for pharmacists to prepare anti-cancer admixtures. However, it is not only important for pharmacists to help ensure safety and confidence in treatments by preparing admixtures, they should also keep a check on the situation at the bedside. With this in mind, a questionnaire survey of patients was conducted to determine the effect of conducting chemotherapy in the outpatient situation. The questionnaire used multiple choice answers with regard to “length of time under intravenous drip”, “how patients spent the time they were receiving drips”, “things they wanted to know” and “requests and opinions”. Responses were received from 53 patients over a period of 2 months
The results revealed that half of patients slept during chemotherapy, but there were some who read books or magazines or listened to music. Some felt dissatisfied with the inconvenience. Many respondents mentioned adverse effects and anxiety concerning treatment and some said that they welcomed the visit of the pharmacist. Thus the survey revealed the anxiety that patients felt on receiving chemotherapy in the outpatient setting and we felt that it was necessary to provide an atmosphere in which they could feel at ease during treatment. Moreover, it let us clearly see that the pharmacist's mission is to ensure safety and a feeling of confidence in outpatient chemotherapy.