Potential impact of clinical pharmacist services on mitigating oral and nutritional complications and quality of life in hospitalized patients with hematological malignancies

Abstract

Backgrounds

The prevalence of oral and malnutrition disorders is quite high in patients with hematological malignancies which may complicate cancer management resulting in poor prognosis, lower quality of life (QoL) and more deterioration of patient-related outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of clinical pharmacist provision of patient education and counseling services on mitigating the occurrence and severity of oral and nutritional complications alongside improving the quality of life from chemotherapy in hospitalized hematological patients in Istanbul, Türkiye.

Methods

A single-centre prospective, randomized-controlled study conducted in hospitalized cancer patients with new diagnosis of hematological malignancies in the hematology clinic service of Istanbul Medipol University Hospital between September 2022 and March 2023. Patients were assigned into two groups with one-month follow-up as a control group (CG) who received oncology care and an intervention group (IG) who received both oncology care and intensive and appropriate education and counseling services by the clinical pharmacist regarding the incidence of oral and nutritional complications

Results

Compared to the CG and after the provision of patient education and counselling by the clinical pharmacist, patients within the IG showed statistically significant lower incidence and severity of oral mucositis (P < 0.0001), a significantly decreased total protein and serum albumin (P < 0.0001). 61.4% of patients in the CG were at nutritional risk compared to 53.1% of patients in the IG and a significant improvement in the QoL regarding physical, vital, cognitive, emotional, social functions and general health status.

Conclusions

Hospitalized cancer patients with hematological malignancies reported improved patient-related outcomes regarding oral and nutritional complications alongside improved quality of life after the provision of patient education and counseling by the clinical pharmacist which can be considered a priority strategy for providing well-structured cancer-related supportive care.