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INTRODUCTION: Extravasation by conventional cytotoxics has been well documented. While monoclonal antibodies are not considered to have the necrotic potential of some cytotoxic medicines, they require appropriate management in case of extravasation. However, fewer data are available on their classification and appropriate management when extravasation occurs. As monoclonal antibodies are being more commonly used in current daily oncology practice, this is an issue that cannot be ignored. METHODS: A scientific literature review on PubMed was conducted. All findings were critically appraised independently by 6 clinical pharmacists in order to provide a classification according to the extravasation hazard. RESULTS: A classification of non-conjugated and conjugated monoclonal antibodies according to extravasation hazard has been elaborated for different molecules frequently used in oncology. In addition, general management, in case extravasation of monoclonal antibodies occurs, has been proposed and the role of the pharmacist in the extravasation process has been described. CONCLUSION: A classification of hazard extent of extravasation of monoclonal antibodies with concurrent management based on literature data and expert consensus has been elaborated. In addition, the role of the oncology pharmacist is crucial in terms of follow-up and documentation of the extravasated monoclonal antibody and management is described.
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COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a medical condition that encompasses several chronic, progressive, and severe respiratory illnesses, such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. COPD is the 4th most deadly disease in the world and its prevalence is expected to increase. Despite the abundance of information on the disease's etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment possibilities, it has long been underdiagnosed and underreported for a long time, particularly in developing countries. The symptoms of COPD result in significant impairments and significant impact on quality of life. COPD is the third leading cause of death in Pakistan. According to the published literature, COPD has been found to be associated with a serious economic burden, either the direct cost to healthcare systems in the form of frequent hospital admissions or indirect costs to patients suffering from COPD. Despite the availability of excellent medication, COPD treatment goals are frequently not achieved resulting in poor management of COPD. The recent studies revealed that due to the missing role of Pharmacists in most of the public sector hospitals of Pakistan, the COPD disease management protocols are not being properly followed. Pharmacists can help the healthcare system by implementing these management protocols that focus on patient education about the disease, prescribed medications, and proper inhalation techniques. Furthermore, the pharmacists as an effective healthcare's team member properly educate the patients about the ongoing assessments and their willingness to follow treatment recommendations and quit smoking, while referring them to smoking cessation programs as needed, following the GOLD guidelines. This aim of this clinical trial is to evaluate the impact of implementing standard treatment guidelines and the role of pharmacists in implementing GOLD guidelines for COPD management.
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BACKGROUND: Residents in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) have a high number of medication-related problems. Integrating on-site pharmacists (OSPs) into this setting is a possible solution and is currently gaining traction in Australia and internationally. The Pharmacists in Residential Aged Care Facilities (PiRACF) cluster-randomised controlled trial integrated pharmacists into the RACF care team to improve medication management. The aim of this descriptive observational study is to explore the activities of OSPs when they are integrated into multidisciplinary care team in RACFs. METHOD: An online survey tool was developed to record the activities of OSPs in RACFs using the Qualtrics© software. OSPs were asked questions about their activities in RACFs under categories that included description, time spent, outcomes where applicable and who the pharmacists communicated with to undertake the activity. RESULTS: Six pharmacists were integrated into 7 RACFs. Overall, they recorded 4252 activities over 12 months. OSPs conducted 1022 (24.0%) clinical medication reviews; 48.8% of medication reviews identified and discussed potentially inappropriate medications with prescribers and 1025 other recommendations were made to prescribers. Overall, the prescriber accepted 51.5% of all recommendations made by OSPs. The most frequently accepted outcome was deprescribing of medications (47.5% for potentially inappropriate medications and 55.5% for other recommendations). OSPs performed facility-level activities including staff education (13.4%), clinical audits (5.8%), and quality improvement activities (9.4%). OSPs spent a large proportion of their time communicating (23.4%) extensively with prescribers, RACF's healthcare team, and residents. CONCLUSION: OSPs successfully performed a wide range of clinical activities aimed both at improving residents' medication regimens, and organisational-level quality improvement. The OSP model presents an opportunity for pharmacists to enhance medication management in the residential aged care setting. Trial registration The trial was registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) (ACTRN: ACTRN12620000430932) on April 1, 2020.
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Our pharmacy is a support center for home-care dispensing with a sterile dispensary, actively participating in a regional collaboration among medical treatment, nursing, and social care. We have supported hundreds of home-care patients, most of whom were elderly people living at home but a dozen or so were pediatric patients. Although the primary diseases of the children varied, what they had in common was a high degree of medical dependence and it was difficult to move them. At the same time, a caregiver had to be in constant attendance because medical care was intermittent. At the pharmacy, they faced long waiting times and received so many medications that they needed platform carts to carry them. By providing pharmacist-led home guidance on medications, we supported the pharmacotherapy of children with extreme symptoms who remained under the supervision of a physician from an advanced medical institution even after returning home. Through my experience of visiting both elderly people and children, it is clear that the home medical care system for the elderly, which assumes that the patients' physicians will visit their homes, is badly suited to pediatric patients who must visit advanced medical institutions for examinations.