Clinical Pharmacy Services in Ambulatory Oncology: An Environmental Scan of the Canadian Practice Landscape

Abstract

Background: Canadian clinical pharmacy key performance indicators (cpKPIs) have been developed for inpatient hospital practice but are not established for ambulatory oncology. This study represents the first step in developing cpKPIs for ambulatory oncology.

Objectives: To describe the current landscape of pharmacy services in ambulatory oncology in Canada and to identify perspectives related to the development and implementation of cpKPIs in this practice setting.

Methods: In this national cross-sectional study, a web-based questionnaire was distributed to pharmacists working in ambulatory oncology settings. Potential participants who self-identified as pharmacists practising in an ambulatory oncology setting were eligible. Survey questions focused on participants’ demographic characteristics, oncology pharmacy services provided, metrics captured, and pharmacists’ perceptions of cpKPIs. All data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Results: A total of 44 responses were received, with most respondents practising in community hospitals in British Columbia, Ontario, and Atlantic Canada. The services most commonly provided were chemotherapy order verification, laboratory monitoring, identification and resolution of drug therapy problems, and counselling on anticancer medications. Twenty-six of the 44 respondents (59%) indicated that performance metrics or patient outcomes were tracked at their respective institutions, with none being universally captured. Overall, 43 (98%) of the respondents favoured the development of cpKPIs for ambulatory oncology practice.

Conclusions: Despite growing patient care needs in ambulatory oncology, there is significant heterogeneity in the scope of pharmacy services offered and the outcomes used to qualify their impact within this setting across Canada. This study demonstrates a clear need for national consensus cpKPIs to inform pharmacy resource utilization and patient-centred quality improvement initiatives.