48 Background: With an increasing number of patients receiving oral cancer therapies, evaluation of safe prescription practices, effective patient education, and toxicity monitoring of these agents is imperative. Methods: Multi-disciplinary oncology practitioners at several cancer centres in Toronto, Canada were surveyed using a web-based platform, to evaluate their prescription practices, use of patient education and symptom management tools, as well as their views on patient adherence and toxicity reporting. Results: Of 170 respondents, 43% were nurses, 34% were pharmacists, and 23% were physicians. Seventy nine percent considered patient education, medication adherence (76%), and toxicity management (78%) as “very important” components of oral chemotherapy management. Prescription methods varied: 59% of respondents used written prescriptions, 39% computerized physician order entry (CPOE), and 0% pre-printed orders, ≥50% of the time. Clinicians felt that patients report side effects from oral agents only “some of the time” (53%), and the most problematic toxicities were nausea (61%) and diarrhea (61%). Practitioners perceived the most common reasons for patient underreporting of side effects to be “fear of treatment interruption” (62%), and that “toxicities are part of the treatment” (66%). Seventy three percent of those surveyed felt individual counseling, follow-up calls (69%), and updated medication information (57%) would improve patient adherence and safety. Conclusions: A diverse group of surveyed oncology professionals expressed the importance of utilizing educational and toxicity monitoring tools for patients on oral cancer therapies, particularly as patients are thought to under-report symptoms. Prescription practices are variable, and CPOE use should be improved. The results of this survey will also be compared to a patient survey, to help develop better tools and policies to standardize practice, and improve patient adherence and toxicity management on oral cancer agents.
Observing the Passive Behavior of Dentists towards Oral Cancer Examination and Patient Education: A Case Series
