CANCER CARE: ASSESSMENT OF COMMUNITY PHARMACISTS’ KNOWLEDGE
Sudhiti Dutta, Rhabia Zayee-Mellick and Shereen Nabhani
School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston-Upon-Thames,
Surrey, KT1 2EE.
Introduction
Cancer is an ever growing concern in the UK 1 and with vast advances in treatment and screening
methods, cancer care services are no longer limited to hospitals; they are slowly shifting into the
community. Community pharmacists can have a role in cancer care, as they are easily accessible and
can provide advice related to prevention/screening, signs/symptoms, oral chemotherapy etc. In order
to provide an efficient service they must possess the appropriate knowledge related to cancer care.
There are no studies conducted in the UK assessing the knowledge of community pharmacists,
regarding cancer care. Research in the USA2 suggested pharmacists wish to improve their knowledge
on cancer care and thus enhance services.
Aims
The aims of the study are to gauge current level of knowledge of community pharmacists and obtain
their opinion on training/education associated with cancer care.
Method
A five page questionnaire, consisting of 33 questions was distributed to 105 randomly selected
community pharmacies in Middlesex, Berkshire and Surrey. Overall 95 questionnaires were completed
and analysed using SPSS (16.0).
Results
Over 65% of the respondents failed to state the signs/symptoms and screening methods of breast,
colon-rectal and prostate cancer and 67% (64 participants) of participants were not confident in
counselling patients on oral chemotherapy. Over 50% felt they did do not posses sufficient knowledge
to educate their patients on screening for prostate and breast cancer. Many (57%; 54 participants)
community pharmacists had a ‘keen’ interest in oncology and over 93% wanted to improve their
current knowledge on cancer care (screening/prevention, signs/symptoms, oral chemotherapy etc).
Over 90% (86 participants) mentioned CPD was either rarely or never related to cancer care. Over 97%
stated that more training courses are required on cancer care; online method of training was
preferred by 62% of all respondents.
Conclusion
Overall, community pharmacists wish to enhance their knowledge on cancer care and involvement
with patients, but lack the resources( funding, information etc) to do so.
References
1.
2.
Cancer Research UK. UK Cancer mortality statistics. [Online]. Available from:
http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/cancerstats/mortality/?a=5441 [Accessed 9th April 2009]
Spruill WJ, Wade WE. Cancer Awareness and Prevention Activities: Assessment of Pharmacists’ Knowledge and
Interest. J Am Pharm Assoc. 2004;44(1):94-98
Abstract Title: Cancer Care: Assessment of Community Pharmacists’ Knowledge
Authors: Sudhiti Dutta ,Rhabia Zayee-Mellick and Shereen Nabhani
Address: School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science
Kingston University
Penrhyn Road
Kingston-Upon-Thames
Surrey
KT1 2EE
Tel No: 0208 4177413
Fax: 02084177497
Email: S.Nabhani@kingston.ac.uk (corresponding author)