Improving the relative dose intensity of systemic chemotherapy in a community-based outpatient cancer center.

Purpose: This three-phase study was performed to improve the mean relative dose intensity (RDI) of chemotherapy administered to patients in a community-based outpatient cancer center.

Methods: Medical records were reviewed for patients who began receiving systemic chemotherapy for lymphoma or cancer of the breast, lung, endometrium, ovary, or colon. During phase 1, records were reviewed and the mean RDI was determined through collection of demographic, diagnostic, chemotherapy, and laboratory data.