The Activity of Palliative Care Team Pharmacists in Designated Cancer Hospitals: A Nationwide Survey in Japan

Abstract Context The role of pharmacists in palliative care has become more important now that they are able to provide medication review, patient education, and advice to physicians about a patient's pharmacotherapy. However, there is little known about pharmacists' activity on palliative care teams. Objectives The present study aimed to examine the clinical, educational, and research activities of pharmacists on palliative care teams and pharmacist-perceived contributions to a palliative care team or why they could not contribute. Methods We sent 397 questionnaires to designated cancer hospitals, and 304 responses were analyzed (response rate 77%). Results Of the pharmacists surveyed, 79% and 94% reported attending ward rounds and conferences, respectively. Half of the pharmacists provided information/suggestions to the team about pharmacology, pharmaceutical production, managing adverse effects, drug interactions, and/or rotation of drugs. In addition, 80% of the pharmacists organized a multidisciplinary conference on palliative care education. Furthermore, 60% of the pharmacists reported on palliative care research to a scientific society. Seventy percent of the pharmacists reported some level of contribution to a palliative care team, whereas 16% reported that they did not contribute, with the main perceived reasons for no contribution listed as insufficient time (90%) and/or staff (68%). Conclusion In Japan, pharmacists exercise a moderate level of clinical activity on palliative care teams. Many pharmacists believe that they contribute to such a team and generally place more emphasis on their educational and research roles compared with clinical work.