Recommendations by the Spanish Society of Hospital Pharmacy, the Spanish Society of Oncology Nursing and the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology for the safe management of antineoplastic medication in cancer patients

• Published in: Farmacia hospitalaria : organo oficial de expresion cientifica de la Sociedad Espanola de Farmacia Hospitalaria Vol. 42; no. 6; p. 261
• Main Authors: Otero, María José, Vera, Ruth, González-Pérez, Cristina, Ayala de la Peña, Francisco, Peñuelas, Ángeles, Quer, Nuria
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Spain 01-11-2018
• Subjects: Antineoplastic Agents - adverse effects; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Consensus; Humans; Medical Oncology - standards; Medication Therapy Management; Neoplasms - drug therapy; Patient Safety; Spain; Spain
• ISSN: 2171-8695
• DOI: 10.7399/fh.11132

To define recommendations that permit safe management of  antineoplastic medication, minimise medication errors and improve the safety of  cancer patients undergoing treatment.
By reviewing the literature and consulting the websites of various health organisations and agencies, an expert committee from the  Spanish Society of Hospital Pharmacy and the Spanish Society of Medical  Oncology defined a set of safe practices covering all stages of providing cancer  therapy to patients. The Spanish Society of Oncology Nursing revised and  endorsed the final list.
In total, 68 recommendations arranged in 5 sections were defined. They include issues concerning the training of health professionals, the technological resources needed, treatment planning, informing the patient and his family, the processes of prescribing, preparing, dispensing and administering cancer therapy (orally, parenterally or intrathecally),  assessing patient adherence and treatment toxicity.
It is essential for healthcare establishments to implement specific  measures designed to prevent medication errors, in order to ensure the safety of  cancer patients treated with antineoplastic medication.