Pharmaceutical home monitoring for oncology patients in palliative care

Abstract

Informing patients about rational drug use is necessary when therapies involve medications with adverse effects that can compromise treatment adherence. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the importance of the pharmaceutical professional in home visits. The study focused on a Palliative Care Unit Home Care Program, which orients patients and/or caregivers about home drug use. Paid pharmaceutical visits were conducted among 47 patients. During the first visit, incorrect medication prescriptions were observed for 21 patients (61.7 %); after subsequent visits, the average rate of correct prescription was 75 %. The present study observed a need for a professional who is exclusively dedicated to therapeutic drug monitoring during in-home pharmaceutical visits.