Abstract
Introduction: In some cases, anticancer drugs are wasted for various reasons after preparation, resulting in an economic burden. Therefore, the pharmacists in the study verified laboratory test values before dispensing the drug and determined the financial effect of reusing the wasted drug for other patients.
Methods: This study collected data from our electronic medical records of 46 of 17,042 cases prescribed with intravenous chemotherapy drugs between March 2021 and February 2023. The number, rate, and costs of wasted drugs were investigated between groups A (n = 18) and B (n = 28) for the year before and after the pharmacists' intervention.
Results: The wasted drug rate after preparation was 0.21% in group A and 0.33% in group B, with no significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.184). In group B, wasted drugs due to pharmacist-checked items were significantly lower (p < 0.001).
There was no significant difference in the cost of wasted drugs between the two groups (p = 0.628). However, the final wasted drug cost, excluding those avoided by using reused drugs, was lower in group B (p = 0.067).
Conclusions: If pharmacists verify laboratory test values and reuse drugs after discontinuation, it may decrease economic losses and ensure safe administration by reducing waste due to medical worker factors.
