Poster Presentation Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2023

Advancing the role of the pharmacy technician in cancer services: authorising and checking of compounded parenteral cancer medicines in Australia (#393)

Marissa Ryan 1 2 3 , Sarah Wong 1 , Tara Poke 1 , Nancy Pham 1 , Sarah Frier 1 , Samantha Yim 1 , Luke Shuttleworth 1 , Richard Gosling 1 , Centaine Snoswell 2 3 4
  1. Pharmacy Department, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
  2. Centre for Online Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
  3. Centre for Health Services Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
  4. School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Background: Oncology and haematology specialty services provide pharmacy technicians (PTs) with opportunities to expand their scope of practice by completing structured competency assessments. The aims of this study were to review existing literature on expanded scope roles for PTs, and undertake a national survey to benchmark the prevalence of (a) authorising, which is the accuracy checking of electronically dispensed compounded parenteral cancer medicines (CPCMs), and (b) checking of CPCMs against a pharmacist clinically verified prescription. Across many cancer services sites pharmacists currently perform the tasks of authorising and checking of CPCMs, so implementation of an advanced PT role is likely to increase time pharmacists have available to spend on clinical activities.  

Method: A brief literature review was carried out on expanded scope roles for PTs, and 13 pharmacists at separate cancer health centres were invited to participate in an online survey. Survey respondents were invited to provide information about whether PTs perform authorising and checking of CPCMs at their sites. Descriptive statistics were used to report results.  

Results: Existing literature demonstrates PTs have similar or greater accuracy than pharmacists when performing dispensing and checking of medicines, alongside a pharmacist clinical check. Ten (67%) pharmacists responded to the survey. Nine responses were received from hospitals in Queensland, and one was from Western Australia. Eight responses were from public health services and two were from private health facilities. For dispensing and authorising, four pharmacies had a PT-only model in place. None of the cancer services pharmacies had PTs checking CPCMs against cancer therapy prescriptions. 

Conclusion: Our review of literature and survey of pharmacies providing cancer services provides a snapshot of the existing advanced scope activities being undertaken by PTs in cancer services in Australia. This information will be used to create a pilot study on authorising and checking of CPCMs by PTs.