Implementation of a clinical pharmacist-led service to optimize management of refractory chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in adult hematology/oncology clinic.

OBJECTIVE

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is a common and potentially debilitating adverse effect of chemotherapy. Refractory CINV can be particularly difficult to control. This report provides details on the implementation and evaluation of a pharmacist-led program for the management of refractory CINV in hematology and oncology clinics.

METHODS

A pharmacist-led program open to adult outpatients with refractory CINV was implemented at University of Wisconsin. Pharmacists conducted baseline and follow-up assessments, provided patient education, and started, discontinued, and/or adjusted antiemetics as clinically necessary for all enrolled patients. Retrospective chart review was used to describe the proportion of patients whose CINV improved through pharmacist intervention, effect of the program on antiemetic adherence, categorization of pharmacist interventions, and duration of patient enrollment.

RESULTS

Forty-six patients were enrolled between February 2019 and January 2020. Forty-one patients (89.1%) had an overall reduction in their nausea and vomiting from baseline. Eleven patients (23.9%) met criteria for nonadherence to prescribed antiemetics at baseline; all patients were adherent at unenrollment. A total of 111 pharmacist interventions were made. The most common intervention was addition of new breakthrough antiemetic. The least common intervention was dose escalation of a previously prescribed antiemetic. The average number of interventions made per patient was 2.5. On average, patients were enrolled in the program for 16.6 days and met with a pharmacist three times.

CONCLUSION

Implementation of this program standardized and streamlined pharmacist involvement with refractory CINV. Enrollment resulted in a measurable reduction in nausea and/or vomiting for patients with refractory CINV.