Needs of chemotherapy regimen checks procedure: from the survey on chemotherapy regimen checks performed by pharmacists in hospitals other than designated cancer hospitals in Japan

Abstract Introduction: Pharmacists perform regimen checks of physicians’ prescription orders in hospitals for providing appropriate chemotherapy. Details of these steps and procedures are confined to reports within individual facilities. Methods: In July 2016, a questionnaire was sent to the 33 pharmacists of the total 33 National Hospital Organization hospitals that were not cancer hospitals in Japan to survey the items checked in regimen checks and to assess whether the regimen checks are performed for oral anticancer drugs (OACDs) and injected anticancer drugs (IACDs) according to prescription category. The questionnaires included items on characteristics of respondents and their facilities and the 7 items related to regimen checks. Results: All facilities responded to the questionnaires, and 15 and 22 of the facilities performed chemotherapy regimen checks for OACDs and IACDs, respectively. Regimen checks for OACDs were performed for 80% (12/15) of internal and 27% (4/15) of external prescriptions for outpatient care and 93% (14/15) of prescriptions for inpatient care. Regimen checks for IACDs were performed for 91% (20/22) of prescriptions for outpatient care and 100% (22/22) of inpatient care. Conclusions: The surveyed facilities differed in terms of items checked, suggesting that procedures of regimen checks followed protocols unique to each facility. It is vital to establish an adequate procedure to perform safe chemotherapy.