Who Reconstitutes the Chemotherapy? The Educational and Practice Needs of Oncology Pharmacists in West Africa: A Call for Multidisciplinary Team Approach in Oncology Care
PURPOSEOncology pharmacists (OPs) play a crucial role in cancer care, treatment, survivorship, and multidisciplinary teams (MDTs). OPs have specialized training in designing, administering, monitoring, and modifying oncology chemotherapy; managing adverse events; and evaluating clinical trials and i...
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American Society of Clinical Oncology
2025-07-01
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| Series: | JCO Global Oncology |
| Online Access: | https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/GO-25-00021 |
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| author | Runcie C.W. Chidebe Ramatu M. Alabelewe Krishna Prasad Sapkota Darlingtina K. Esiaka Candidus C. Nwakasi Gloria C. Okwu Jacinta Emejulu Adamu A. Umar Ndifreke Okwuegbunam Funsho David Toyosi Adepoju Agha A. Agha Ejike S. Ugwu Simeon C. Aruah Richard Mshelia Rob Duncombe Noel N. Wannang Peace C. Babalola R. Donald Harvey Cindy O'Bryant Folakemi T. Odedina |
| author_facet | Runcie C.W. Chidebe Ramatu M. Alabelewe Krishna Prasad Sapkota Darlingtina K. Esiaka Candidus C. Nwakasi Gloria C. Okwu Jacinta Emejulu Adamu A. Umar Ndifreke Okwuegbunam Funsho David Toyosi Adepoju Agha A. Agha Ejike S. Ugwu Simeon C. Aruah Richard Mshelia Rob Duncombe Noel N. Wannang Peace C. Babalola R. Donald Harvey Cindy O'Bryant Folakemi T. Odedina |
| author_sort | Runcie C.W. Chidebe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | PURPOSEOncology pharmacists (OPs) play a crucial role in cancer care, treatment, survivorship, and multidisciplinary teams (MDTs). OPs have specialized training in designing, administering, monitoring, and modifying oncology chemotherapy; managing adverse events; and evaluating clinical trials and investigational drugs. Yet, the state of OP has remained largely unknown in the clinical oncology workforce of the West African region. Therefore, this study aimed to understand who reconstitutes chemotherapy and to explain the OP educational and practice needs, challenges, and solutions in Nigeria.MATERIALS AND METHODSUsing a concurrent embedded mixed method design, 35 OPs completed a questionnaire, and 12 others responded to a semistructured interview. The data were then subjected to inductive thematic and descriptive analyses.RESULTSThe findings showed that 54% of the OPs were responsible for chemotherapy reconstitution, and only 60% of the oncology centers had a biosafety cabinet. 91% of OPs were practicing; however, only 54% were trained in OP, and none of the OPs were board-certified. Most of the OPs spent time weekly on reconstitution, administrative duties, teaching, and training; only 3% spent on oncology clinical trials and conferences and 8% on noninterventional research. We identified four themes: (1) Some OPs are not reconstituting chemotherapy: A Call for MDT, (2) For OP, No Training is Enough, (3) Board Certification will give OPs Recognition, and (4) Introduction of OP Course in Universities.CONCLUSIONTo improve patient treatment outcomes, training on chemotherapy reconstitution should be prioritized, integration of OPs into MDTs, and the safe handling of chemotherapy in centers should be mandated in the region. The West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists should be supported in expanding its curriculum and introducing OP fellowships. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cb2b595a35fc4b118e47f4b3ef25b4bf |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2687-8941 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | American Society of Clinical Oncology |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JCO Global Oncology |
| spelling | doaj-art-cb2b595a35fc4b118e47f4b3ef25b4bf2025-08-20T03:31:20ZengAmerican Society of Clinical OncologyJCO Global Oncology2687-89412025-07-011110.1200/GO-25-00021Who Reconstitutes the Chemotherapy? The Educational and Practice Needs of Oncology Pharmacists in West Africa: A Call for Multidisciplinary Team Approach in Oncology CareRuncie C.W. Chidebe0Ramatu M. Alabelewe1Krishna Prasad Sapkota2Darlingtina K. Esiaka3Candidus C. Nwakasi4Gloria C. Okwu5Jacinta Emejulu6Adamu A. Umar7Ndifreke Okwuegbunam8Funsho David9Toyosi Adepoju10Agha A. Agha11Ejike S. Ugwu12Simeon C. Aruah13Richard Mshelia14Rob Duncombe15Noel N. Wannang16Peace C. Babalola17R. Donald Harvey18Cindy O'Bryant19Folakemi T. Odedina20Project PINK BLUE—Health & Psychological Trust Centre, Abuja, NigeriaAhmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Kaduna, NigeriaDepartment of Sociology and Gerontology, Miami University, Oxford, OHCenter for Health Equity Transformation, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KYDepartment of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Connecticut, CTProject PINK BLUE—Health & Psychological Trust Centre, Abuja, NigeriaOncology Pharmacy Practitioners Association of Nigeria (OPPAN), Abuja, NigeriaNigerian Cancer Society, Abuja, NigeriaAspire Coronation Trust Foundation, Lagos, NigeriaRoche Products Ltd, Lagos, NigeriaOncology Pharmacy Practitioners Association of Nigeria (OPPAN), Abuja, NigeriaDepartment of Social Work, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, NigeriaProject PINK BLUE—Health & Psychological Trust Centre, Abuja, NigeriaRadiation Oncology Department, National Hospital Abuja, Abuja, NigeriaPharmacy Department, National Hospital Abuja, Abuja, NigeriaInternational Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners (ISOPP), North Vancouver, BC, CanadaFaculty of Clinical Pharmacy, West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists (WAPCP), Lagos, NigeriaChrisland University, Abeokuta, NigeriaClinical Research Executive Director, Woodruff Industry Sponsored Clinical Trials (WISC), Woodruff Health Sciences Center, Atlanta, GADepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, COCancer Prevention, Survivorship and Care Delivery (CPSCD) Research Program, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, Jacksonville, FLPURPOSEOncology pharmacists (OPs) play a crucial role in cancer care, treatment, survivorship, and multidisciplinary teams (MDTs). OPs have specialized training in designing, administering, monitoring, and modifying oncology chemotherapy; managing adverse events; and evaluating clinical trials and investigational drugs. Yet, the state of OP has remained largely unknown in the clinical oncology workforce of the West African region. Therefore, this study aimed to understand who reconstitutes chemotherapy and to explain the OP educational and practice needs, challenges, and solutions in Nigeria.MATERIALS AND METHODSUsing a concurrent embedded mixed method design, 35 OPs completed a questionnaire, and 12 others responded to a semistructured interview. The data were then subjected to inductive thematic and descriptive analyses.RESULTSThe findings showed that 54% of the OPs were responsible for chemotherapy reconstitution, and only 60% of the oncology centers had a biosafety cabinet. 91% of OPs were practicing; however, only 54% were trained in OP, and none of the OPs were board-certified. Most of the OPs spent time weekly on reconstitution, administrative duties, teaching, and training; only 3% spent on oncology clinical trials and conferences and 8% on noninterventional research. We identified four themes: (1) Some OPs are not reconstituting chemotherapy: A Call for MDT, (2) For OP, No Training is Enough, (3) Board Certification will give OPs Recognition, and (4) Introduction of OP Course in Universities.CONCLUSIONTo improve patient treatment outcomes, training on chemotherapy reconstitution should be prioritized, integration of OPs into MDTs, and the safe handling of chemotherapy in centers should be mandated in the region. The West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists should be supported in expanding its curriculum and introducing OP fellowships.https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/GO-25-00021 |
| spellingShingle | Runcie C.W. Chidebe Ramatu M. Alabelewe Krishna Prasad Sapkota Darlingtina K. Esiaka Candidus C. Nwakasi Gloria C. Okwu Jacinta Emejulu Adamu A. Umar Ndifreke Okwuegbunam Funsho David Toyosi Adepoju Agha A. Agha Ejike S. Ugwu Simeon C. Aruah Richard Mshelia Rob Duncombe Noel N. Wannang Peace C. Babalola R. Donald Harvey Cindy O'Bryant Folakemi T. Odedina Who Reconstitutes the Chemotherapy? The Educational and Practice Needs of Oncology Pharmacists in West Africa: A Call for Multidisciplinary Team Approach in Oncology Care JCO Global Oncology |
| title | Who Reconstitutes the Chemotherapy? The Educational and Practice Needs of Oncology Pharmacists in West Africa: A Call for Multidisciplinary Team Approach in Oncology Care |
| title_full | Who Reconstitutes the Chemotherapy? The Educational and Practice Needs of Oncology Pharmacists in West Africa: A Call for Multidisciplinary Team Approach in Oncology Care |
| title_fullStr | Who Reconstitutes the Chemotherapy? The Educational and Practice Needs of Oncology Pharmacists in West Africa: A Call for Multidisciplinary Team Approach in Oncology Care |
| title_full_unstemmed | Who Reconstitutes the Chemotherapy? The Educational and Practice Needs of Oncology Pharmacists in West Africa: A Call for Multidisciplinary Team Approach in Oncology Care |
| title_short | Who Reconstitutes the Chemotherapy? The Educational and Practice Needs of Oncology Pharmacists in West Africa: A Call for Multidisciplinary Team Approach in Oncology Care |
| title_sort | who reconstitutes the chemotherapy the educational and practice needs of oncology pharmacists in west africa a call for multidisciplinary team approach in oncology care |
| url | https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/GO-25-00021 |
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