Expectations of the Multidisciplinary Team on the Roles of Pharmacists in Providing Care to Patients with Palliative Care
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Objective: To study expectations of multidisciplinary team providing care to patients with palliative care on the pharmacists’ role in this group of patients. Methods: Part 1of the study involved focused group discussion among 3 members of multidisciplinary team providing palliative care consisting of one physician, one nurse and one pharmacist. Data summary was conducted using content analysis. Part 2 of the study was survey by sending questionnaires to collect the opinions among doctors, nurses and pharmacists working in palliative care in all primary and secondary hospitals within the seventh public health area. Results: Members of multi-disciplinary team recognized pharmacists’ contribution to the team by reviewing drug use, preparing sufficient amount of medications, and providing medication information and education especially that on opioids for doctors, nurses, patients and their family members. The study sent out 222 questionnaires with 143 being completed and returned (a response rate of 64.41%). Physicians, nurses and pharmacists defined palliative care as holistic care for patients in 4 dimensions including physical, mental, social, and spiritual with patient-centeredness. Physicians and nurses expected pharmacist’s role as a consultant to the team in time of need. Pharmacists would like to participate in team from the initial stage of care at planning and being a consultant on medication when needed by team. All professions perceived pharmacist as expert in identifying and solving drug-related problems, especially those involving opioids. In the other hand, pharmacist was viewed by physicians and nurses as having less experience in closely providing care to patients with terminal illness, and not able to comprehensively understand patients’ problems. Being knowledgeable in dhamma may help pharmacist gain better understanding in patients’ feeling. Pharmacists perceived themselves as having heavy workload, and therefore could not fully participate with the team. Conclusion: Pharmacist is importance and needed to be a part of the team providing care to patients with terminal illness in drug related issues. Pharmacist should learn about dhamma to better understand these patients. Being more knowledgeable in dhamma may help pharmacist in better understanding and taking care of patients
Article Details
ผลการวิจัยและความคิดเห็นที่ปรากฏในบทความถือเป็นความคิดเห็นและอยู่ในความรับผิดชอบของผู้นิพนธ์ มิใช่ความเห็นหรือความรับผิดชอบของกองบรรณาธิการ หรือคณะเภสัชศาสตร์ มหาวิทยาลัยสงขลานครินทร์ ทั้งนี้ไม่รวมความผิดพลาดอันเกิดจากการพิมพ์ บทความที่ได้รับการเผยแพร่โดยวารสารเภสัชกรรมไทยถือเป็นสิทธิ์ของวารสารฯ
References
Pairojkul S. Criteria of palliative care. Khon Kaen: Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University; 2010.
Ziegler LE, Craigs CL, West RM, Carder P, Hurlow A, Millares-Martin P, et al. Is palliative care support associated with better quality end-of-life care indicators for patients with advanced cancer? a retrospective cohort study. BMJ Open 2018; 8: 1–9.
Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Network. Background to palliative care [online]. 2016 [cited Mar 2, 2020]. Available from: aphn.org/background-to-palliative/
Harding M. Palliative care [online]. 2016 [cited Mar 2, 2020]. Available from: patient.info/doctor/palliative-care
Wasi P. Hall of fame speech of sumalee nimmannit: Palliative care and humanized medicine. Bangkok: Printozone; 2009.
Department of Medical Services. Palliative care guideline [online]. 2014 [cited Mar 2, 2020]. Available from: www.dms.moph.go.th/dmsweb/cpg corner/Palliative Care Guideline.pdf
Ashnor M, Pugh J, Jiwa M, Hughes J, Fisher C. The palliative care interdisciplinary team: where is the community pharmacist? J Palliat Med 2011;14:7–11.
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. ASHP guidelines on the pharmacist’s role in palliative and hospice care [online]. 2016 [cited May 8, 2020]. 2016; Available from: www.ashp.org/-/media/assets/policy-guidelines/docs/guidelines-pharmacists-roles-palliative-hospice-care.ashx?la=en
O’Connor M, Hewitt LY, Tuffin PHR. Community pharmacists’ attitudes toward palliative care: An Australian nationwide survey. J Palliat Med. 2013; 16: 1575–81.
Ma JD, Tran V, Chan C, Mitchell WM, Atayee RS. Retrospective analysis of pharmacist interventions in an ambulatory palliative care practice. J Oncol Pharm Pract 2016; 22: 757–65.
Discala SL, Onofrio S, Miller M, Nazario M, Silverman M. Integration of a clinical pharmacist into an interdisciplinary palliative care outpatient clinic. Am J Hosp Palliat Med 2017; 34: 814–9.
Yamada M, Matsumura C, Jimaru Y, Ueno R, Takahashi K, Yano Y. Effect of continuous pharmacist interventions on pain control and side effect management in outpatients with cancer receiving opioid treatments. Biol Pharm Bull 2018; 41: 858–63.
Kradanpol S, Poompruek P. Perspective of pharmacist’s abilities in palliative care according to multidisciplinary team’s expectation. Journal of Health Systems Research. 2017; 11: 91–101.
Thai Ministry of Public Health. Guidelines for drug administration in palliative care. Nonthaburi: Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Health; 2018.
Wannathong P. Development of medication management system in patients with palliative care. Bangkok: The Healthcare Accreditation Institute; 2019.
Gazala A, Corcoran E, MacRobbie A, Harrington G, Bennie M. Developing a model for pharmaceutical palliative care in rural areas—Experience from Scotland. Pharmacy (Basel) 2017; 5: 6. doi: 10.339 0/pharmacy5010006.
