We examined the current status of cancer chemotherapy in outpatients at Takarazuka Municipal Hospital and the associated problems between June, 2002 and May, 2004. The number of patients receiving cancer chemotherapy during this period was 201 and the number of cancer chemotherapy sessions was 2,489. The rate of prescription changes due to a pharmacist's check was 1.6%, and these checks confirmed the usefulness of cooperation between doctors and pharmacists. The average mixing time per chemotherapy mixture was 6.7 minutes, and the mixing time tended to be correlated with the number of vials or ampoules needed for each mixture. The rate of cancellations was 13.0%. Patient complaints such as poor physical condition accounted for a higher proportion of cancellations than abnormal laboratory tests such as a decrease in white blood cell count. These findings suggest that it is necessary for the oncology pharmacist or other medical staff to keep a careful watch on cancer chemotherapy.
