Clinical Pharmacists’ Perspectives on the Need for an App to Assess Chemotherapy Drug-Related Problems in Indonesia: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

IntroductionClinical pharmacists play a crucial role in identifying drug-related problems (DRPs) during the assessment of chemotherapy regimens. In hospitals, this assessment involves identification, intervention, and resolution. However, since the process is largely conducted manually, it becomes time-consuming and inefficient. This study aims to explore the perspectives of clinical pharmacists regarding the current chemotherapy regimen DRPs assessment process and the need for an application (app) to improve and streamline this assessment.MethodsA focus group discussion (FGD) was conducted with 11 clinical pharmacists responsible for reviewing chemotherapy regimens at a hospital in Indonesia. The discussions were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using NVivo 15.0.0.ResultsThe current DRPs assessment is time-consuming due to redundant documentation, requiring daily data entry and reentry for monthly reports. Issues include long processing times and potential body surface area (BSA) and dose calculation errors. Clinical pharmacists expressed the need for a DRPs app to streamline workflow and reduce errors. They emphasized clear, readable fonts, a purple color scheme, and a comprehensive drug database aligned with hospital, Ministry of Health, and national formulary standards. The app should be user-friendly and accessible on both computers and smartphones.ConclusionsThis study highlights that the current manual handwriting-based DRPs assessment process for chemotherapy regimens is inefficient and requires repeated documentation. Clinical pharmacists strongly advocate for the development of an app that streamlines the assessment of DRPs, facilitates accurate and timely reporting of medication errors, and enhances overall efficiency in chemotherapy regimen evaluations.

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