Drug prescription for the management of gastrointestinal and skin symptoms in cancer patients by advanced practice nurses in China: a Delphi method

Background The authority to prescribe drugs has been reserved only for the medical community, mainly clinicians. Recently, more and more countries worldwide have begun implementing reforms to grant advanced practice nurses (APNs) the authority to prescribe from the legislative level. This study aime...

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Main Authors: Dan Zhou, Junying Li, Zhiying Yue, Mingli Zeng, Rujun Zheng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2025-03-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/3/e089803.full
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author Dan Zhou
Junying Li
Zhiying Yue
Mingli Zeng
Rujun Zheng
author_facet Dan Zhou
Junying Li
Zhiying Yue
Mingli Zeng
Rujun Zheng
author_sort Dan Zhou
collection DOAJ
description Background The authority to prescribe drugs has been reserved only for the medical community, mainly clinicians. Recently, more and more countries worldwide have begun implementing reforms to grant advanced practice nurses (APNs) the authority to prescribe from the legislative level. This study aimed to explore the prescription drugs and forms for gastrointestinal and dermatological symptom management of cancer patients that APNs can prescribe in China.Design A qualitative study reported in accordance with Conducting and REporting of DElphi Studies guidelines. The modified Delphi technique with two-round email consultations among 36 experts was applied.Methods We conducted a study from January 2022 to March 2022 to reach a consensus among medical, nursing and pharmacy experts about drugs that nurses may prescribe for gastrointestinal and dermatological symptom management in cancer patients.Results The expert authority coefficients are 0.95 and 0.96, respectively. A total of 35 drugs in 16 categories could be prescribed by APNs for gastrointestinal and dermatological symptoms management in China. Among them, three drugs were determined to be prescribed collaboratively, and 32 drugs were determined to be prescribed independently.Conclusions The drug prescription formulated in this study is the basis for APNs to prescribe drugs for controlling gastrointestinal and skin symptoms for cancer patients in mainland China. The results are important as a guide for formulating and implementing policies related to nurse prescribing and will provide some reference for future nurse prescribing in China.
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spelling doaj-art-fdc83d3080144dda96b0e4a491c3ebcd2025-08-20T03:44:32ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552025-03-0115310.1136/bmjopen-2024-089803Drug prescription for the management of gastrointestinal and skin symptoms in cancer patients by advanced practice nurses in China: a Delphi methodDan Zhou0Junying Li1Zhiying Yue2Mingli Zeng3Rujun Zheng4Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guoxue Alley, Wuhou District, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, ChinaDepartment of Thoracic Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guoxue Alley, Wuhou District, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, ChinaDepartment of Biotherapy, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guoxue Alley, Wuhou District, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, ChinaDepartment of Thoracic Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guoxue Alley, Wuhou District, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, ChinaDepartment of Biotherapy, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guoxue Alley, Wuhou District, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, ChinaBackground The authority to prescribe drugs has been reserved only for the medical community, mainly clinicians. Recently, more and more countries worldwide have begun implementing reforms to grant advanced practice nurses (APNs) the authority to prescribe from the legislative level. This study aimed to explore the prescription drugs and forms for gastrointestinal and dermatological symptom management of cancer patients that APNs can prescribe in China.Design A qualitative study reported in accordance with Conducting and REporting of DElphi Studies guidelines. The modified Delphi technique with two-round email consultations among 36 experts was applied.Methods We conducted a study from January 2022 to March 2022 to reach a consensus among medical, nursing and pharmacy experts about drugs that nurses may prescribe for gastrointestinal and dermatological symptom management in cancer patients.Results The expert authority coefficients are 0.95 and 0.96, respectively. A total of 35 drugs in 16 categories could be prescribed by APNs for gastrointestinal and dermatological symptoms management in China. Among them, three drugs were determined to be prescribed collaboratively, and 32 drugs were determined to be prescribed independently.Conclusions The drug prescription formulated in this study is the basis for APNs to prescribe drugs for controlling gastrointestinal and skin symptoms for cancer patients in mainland China. The results are important as a guide for formulating and implementing policies related to nurse prescribing and will provide some reference for future nurse prescribing in China.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/3/e089803.full
spellingShingle Dan Zhou
Junying Li
Zhiying Yue
Mingli Zeng
Rujun Zheng
Drug prescription for the management of gastrointestinal and skin symptoms in cancer patients by advanced practice nurses in China: a Delphi method
BMJ Open
title Drug prescription for the management of gastrointestinal and skin symptoms in cancer patients by advanced practice nurses in China: a Delphi method
title_full Drug prescription for the management of gastrointestinal and skin symptoms in cancer patients by advanced practice nurses in China: a Delphi method
title_fullStr Drug prescription for the management of gastrointestinal and skin symptoms in cancer patients by advanced practice nurses in China: a Delphi method
title_full_unstemmed Drug prescription for the management of gastrointestinal and skin symptoms in cancer patients by advanced practice nurses in China: a Delphi method
title_short Drug prescription for the management of gastrointestinal and skin symptoms in cancer patients by advanced practice nurses in China: a Delphi method
title_sort drug prescription for the management of gastrointestinal and skin symptoms in cancer patients by advanced practice nurses in china a delphi method
url https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/3/e089803.full
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