Abstract
Medication errors frequently occur, and pharmacists must establish systems to prevent errors. Especially, the development of novel systems to facilitate the optimal usage of anticancer agents is recognized as an urgent issue, because these agents show severe side effects in comparison to other drugs. As a result, we prepared review sheets for prescriptions containing anticancer injectable drugs (check sheet) according to protocols of chemotherapy designed by our oncology surgery unit. In addition, explanation leaflets for injectable drugs were also prepared to provide drug information for patients.
Using these check sheets, we found 3 out of 40 prescriptions which needed to be corrected before usage. Patients and doctors were asked to evaluate the explanation leaflets of anticancer agents, and good responses were obtained. Furnishing drug information on explanation leaflets could thus help improve patient's understanding of adverse reactions of anticancer agents and also help to detect adverse reactions in the early stages.
In summary, we developed a new system to increase the optimal usage of anticancer agents, which allows for improved drug information regarding chemotherapeutic drug. This new system is expected to help reduce medical errors and facilitate the patient awareness regarding drug usage.
