"Comment mieux informer sur la prise d'une thérapie anticancéreuse orale?" Une démarche partenariat-patient.

Details

Supervisors

Sennesael, Anne-Laure ; Achen, Catherine

Faculty

Faculté de pharmacie et des sciences biomédicales

Degree label

Master de spécialisation en pharmacie hospitalière

Abstract

Background The use of oral anticancer drugs (OACDs) has expanded over the last few years giving patients an increasing responsibility for their safe handling and administration. Therefore, patients should be provided with clear, relevant and appropriate information to ensure a proper and safe use of these therapies. Objectives This study aimed to create a standard information tool on OACDs, embracing a « patient-as-partner » approach. The development of information tools on OACDs based on this « patient-as-partner » approach seems to be an understudied topic. The main objective was to assess the needs of patients on OACDs regarding information about their treatment. A second objective was to create a standard patient information tool about these OACDs, tailored to their needs. Method During this prospective monocentric qualitative study, patients’ needs were identified through 10 semi-structured interviews. Then, standard information tools meeting those needs were developed. To validate these tools, we collected the opinions of patients on OACDs and of health professionals about their content and form, during an interdisciplinary focus group. Findings The key sections of the standard information leaflet were defined, in line with the patients’ needs. Examples of these sections include ‘How to take the drug?’, ‘Mode of action’, ‘Management of side effects’, ‘Safe storage and disposal of drugs’, ‘Missing a dose?’, … The content and layout of this leaflet were approved during the focus group, and the following appendices were attached to the document: a schedule of intake and a wallet-sized patient card listing possible interactions with the OACD. Conclusion Our « patient-as-partner » approach led to the creation of a standard information leaflet framework on OACDs. This standard tool needs to be adapted for each OACD. Its clinical impact, which was not evaluated in this study, may be the subject of a further study.