The Role of Home Care Pharmacists in the Edmonton Zone: A Retrospective Study.

Background: Despite the rising demand for home-based health care services in Canada and the increasing medical complexity of elderly patients, there is limited literature exploring the role of home care pharmacists and the clinical activities they perform.

Objectives: The primary objective was to describe the types and frequencies of clinical activities (both interventions and recommendations) performed by home care pharmacists upon initial consultation. The secondary objective was to determine which patient characteristics resulted in the highest number of clinical activities.

Pharmacists' practices and views regarding management of sexual health in patients with cancer.

Introduction: Sexual health issues associated with cancer can significantly impact patients' psychosocial well-being and overall quality of life. These issues are frequently medication-related, placing pharmacists in an opportune position to manage sexual health concerns in patients with cancer. Currently, no literature exists exploring pharmacists' practices related to the management of sexual health in oncology patients.

International society of oncology pharmacy practitioners (ISOPP) position statement: The role of oncology pharmacy practitioners in immunotherapy treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors for malignant conditions.

Oncology pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and assistants are key members of the multidisciplinary health care team (MHT) caring for patients receiving immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors. The International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners (ISOPP) developed this position statement to provide guidance on the role of oncology pharmacy practitioners in caring for patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors.Four key recommendations were identified: 1) participation as an integrated, collaborative member of the MHT;2) provision of education and training for patients, students, residents, fellows and other members of the MHT;3) involvement in clinical governance to optimise the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors and4) involvement in research and development in the field of immunotherapy.

Evaluation of care delivery by a novel multidisciplinary bone health clinic for patients at risk of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis.

Unlabelled: Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) is a common condition associated with increased risk for fracture. Many patients receive suboptimal care. We created a novel GIOP clinic model which successfully fills a gap in osteoporosis care by providing multidisciplinary intervention in key components of GIOP preventive care to an underserved patient population.

Educational needs of oncology pharmacists: A survey by the International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners.

Background: The International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners (ISOPP) is committed to providing educational resources to members for their continuous learning and professional development. This survey was conducted to explore the educational needs of International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners members for the purpose of developing resources to support future learning relevant to the diverse global pharmacy practitioner membership of our society.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners membership was conducted between 10 December 2018 and 15 January 2019.

Implementation of additional prescribing authorization among oncology pharmacists in Alberta.

Purpose: To describe the practice settings and prescribing practices of oncology pharmacists with additional prescribing authorization.

Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional survey of all oncology pharmacists in Alberta was conducted using a web-based questionnaire over four weeks between March and April 2016. Pharmacists were identified from the Cancer Services Pharmacy Directory and leadership staff in Alberta Health Services.

Concomitant Administration of Proton Pump Inhibitors and Capecitabine is Associated With Increased Recurrence Risk in Early Stage Colorectal Cancer Patients.

Background: Capecitabine is used to treat colorectal (CRC) cancer. TRIO-013, a study examining capecitabine/oxaliplatin ± lapatinib in metastatic gastro-esophageal cancer did not show increases in overall survival (OS) with lapatinib. An analysis showed concurrent proton pump inhibitor (PPI) usage negatively impacted recurrence-free survival (RFS).

Effects of gender on capecitabine toxicity in colorectal cancer.

Background: Capecitabine is a highly water soluble prodrug of 5-fluorouracil that is dosed by patient body surface area. Body surface area dosing makes no allowances for differences in body composition. There is mounting evidence that lean body mass is a better predictor of toxicity than body surface area for drugs which distribute into the lean compartment.

Adherence to adjuvant endocrine therapy in women with breast cancer.

Purpose: To determine how many breast cancer patients who initiated adjuvant endocrine therapy discontinued early and to evaluate adherence in patients who persisted with therapy. Secondary objectives were to explore possible trends to see if certain factors may correlate to early discontinuation of therapy.

Methods: A retrospective review of charts and pharmacy dispensing records was conducted, including patients who initiated adjuvant endocrine therapy for breast cancer at the Cross Cancer Institute from 1 January to 31 December, 2006.