[Knowledge of the cost of the treatments delivered from the Hospital Pharmacy Department and perception of the health status].

Objective: To assess the influence of the knowledge of the financial cost of the treatment and perception of the patient of his/her health status and the health care received from the Hospital Pharmacy Department (HPD).

Method: During a four-month period, from July to October of 2009, a questionnaire was provided to all the patients coming to the Hospital Pharmacy Department to gather their medications, except for those starting their therapies. The patients returning the completed questionnaire at a next visit were provided with the second part, in which they were informed on the monthly cost of their treatments and some questions from the main questionnaire were asked again.

Chemotherapy dose intensity reductions due to adverse drug reactions in an oncology outpatient setting.

Objective: the aim of this study was to establish the incidence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) that prevent administration of planned dose intensity antineoplastic chemotherapy in clinical practice.

Methods: a retrospective cohort study was made of adult oncology patients who received intravenous chemotherapy in an outpatient ward during 2005. Dose delays, dose reductions, dose omissions, or treatment discontinuations with respect to the planned chemotherapy regimen were obtained, and causes were evaluated to identify ADRs.