Evaluation the Impact of Pharmacist Lead Medication Counseling in Oncology Wards

Abstract

Introduction: Cancer remains one of the most significant global health challenges, causing over 10 million
deaths in 2020 and projected to reach 22 million new cases annually by 2040. Disparities in early diagnosis
and effective treatment, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, contribute to higher mortality rates.
Chemotherapy is a cornerstone of cancer treatment, often used in combination regimens or alongside targeted
therapies and immunotherapy to enhance outcomes. However, adherence to treatment remains a challenge, and the
role of pharmacists in supporting oncology patients through education and counseling has shown promising yet
underexplored results in certain settings. Objective: Our study aims to assess patients’ perceptions, experiences,
and satisfaction in general with specialized clinical pharmacist consultations while receiving oral chemotherapy
in Saudi Arabia. Methodology: This cross-sectional multicenter study was conducted in the oncology wards of
tertiary care hospitals in Saudi Arabia between July 2025 and December 2025. Adult cancer patients receiving oral
chemotherapy were recruited using convenience sampling. Data were collected using a culturally adapted version
of the Cancer Services Pharmacist Questionnaire, which included demographic information and 16 items rated
on a 5-point Likert scale to assess perceived benefits of pharmacist counseling, patient confidence, knowledge
gained, medication adherence, and availability of support services. A scoring system based on Bloom’s cut-off
points was used to categorize awareness levels as good, moderate, or poor. Results: The participant cohort was
majority female (≈80%), highly educated (62.3% with bachelor’s degrees), with a mean age of 37.5 years. About
one-third reported personal/family cancer history; most had never previously received pharmacist counseling
(79.3%). Following intervention, 85% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that clinical pharmacists play
a key role in inpatient care, medication management, enhancing outcomes, and reducing medication errors.
Awareness of pharmacist contributions was high (56.4% high, 30.7% moderate). Awareness levels were
significantly associated with gender, age, income, residential area, educational level, marital status, oncology
admission, and prior counseling (all P < 0.05). Disagreement on pharmacist value or knowledge was rare (<3%).
Conclusion: Structured pharmacist-led counseling in oncology wards substantially increases patient awareness
and positive perceptions of pharmacists’ roles, supporting recommendations for expanded pharmacist involvement
in cancer care teams in Saudi Arabia.