Improving Pediatric Oncology Knowledge Through Pharmaceutical Health Education.

Abstract

Pediatric oncology patients present unique challenges for healthcare professionals and caregivers. Strategies to enhance pharmaceutical knowledge among patients and their families are crucial for improving treatment adherence, safety, and outcomes. The objective was to investigate the impact of pharmaceutical health education on caregivers' ability to understand and administer medications to pediatric patients with cancer. Using a quasi-experimental design, the study implemented Medication Therapy Management services, with pharmacists providing comprehensive education through booklets and personalized consultations on chemotherapy administration, side effect management, and home medication use. The study included 29 patients, with a mean age of 5.7 years and 51.7% female. Initially, 10.3% of caregivers reported significant difficulties in medication administration. After the intervention, no caregivers reported extreme difficulty, while significant improvements in medication administration ease (W = 06.0; p = 0.047) and caregiver knowledge (W = 0.00; p < 0.001). Caregivers also better understood the importance of medication for their children's treatment (W = 0.0; p = 0.053). The present study highlights the critical role of tailored health education in empowering caregivers in pediatric oncology care. Despite some limitations, this study demonstrated that individualized pharmacist-led interventions can significantly improve outcomes in complex pediatric oncology scenarios.