Patient Satisfaction Survey on Portable Infusion Pumps for Colorectal Cancer Chemotherapy: Hard-Shelled or Soft-Shelled?

Purpose: Elastomeric infusion pumps are widely used in colorectal cancer chemotherapy. However, no studies to date have investigated patient preferences regarding different infusion pump types. Patients and Methods: Twenty patients with unresectable colorectal cancer undergoing chemotherapy were initially treated with a portable hard-shelled continuous infusion pump, followed by a soft-shelled continuous infusion pump. The respondents used a numerical rating scale (0-10) to rate their comfort when using each pump, their ease of carrying it, the pump size and shape, its weight, their ease of reading its memory, and their overall satisfaction with it. They were then asked to determine which pump they would ultimately prefer. Results: In terms of comfort, significantly higher user satisfaction was reported for the soft-shelled pump during the daytime and when going out (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, respectively). For pump portability, size, shape, and weight, the soft-shelled type also outperformed the hard-shelled one (P < 0.001, P=0.0011, P < 0.001, respectively). However, the hard-shelled pump scored significantly better in terms of ease of viewing memory (P < 0.001). Overall satisfaction was significantly higher for the soft-shelled pump than the hard-shelled type (P=0.0095). Finally, 13 patients (65%) indicated that they would prefer a soft-shelled pump for their next treatment, while only one patient (5%) preferred a hard-shelled alternative. A preference for soft-shelled pump was observed, particularly in female patients and those with a body mass index of < 22 kg/m2. Conclusion: The selection of portable elastomeric infusion pumps should consider the preferences of patients with colorectal cancer, as these devices have the potential to enhance their quality of life.

[Effect of Digital Labels on Electronic Medical Records for Reducing the Use of Benzodiazepine Receptor Agonists].

Benzodiazepine receptor agonists (BZDs) should be appropriately used owing to the associated risks of delirium and falls. Since January 2018, the liaison team pharmacist at Iizuka Hospital has been applying digital labels with recommendations for the reduction of use and changes in the medication orders and prescriptions of BZDs on electronic medical records of patients in the surgical ward. This study aimed to verify the effectiveness of reducing the use of BZDs via the implementation of digital labels. Patients in the surgical ward were retrospectively assessed for changes in medication orders and prescription ratios of BZDs before and after the implementation of digital labels. The ratio of the number of digital labels implemented to the number of confirmations of medication orders and prescriptions of BZDs was 15.0% at the start of implementation; however, the ratio gradually and significantly decreased to 3.6%. The medication order ratio of BZDs was 52.2% before the implementation of digital labels; however, this ratio decreased to 2.7% and 5.6% immediately and 4 months after the implementation of digital labels, respectively. The present study showed that medication orders for BZDs were reduced after the implementation of digital labels and that the reduction effect was maintained for a certain period of time. Thus, the liaison team pharmacist-led approach can contribute to the proper use of BZDs.