A Narrative Review on Clinical Pharmacist Strategies in Managing Chemotherapy-Related Side Effects in Cancer Patients
Keywords:
Clinical Pharmacist, Chemotherapy, Adverse Effects Management, Antiemetic Protocol, Oncology Pharmacy, Patient Education, Interprofessional CollaborationAbstract
Clinical pharmacists are increasingly recognised as pivotal members of oncology teams, yet their aggregate impact on chemotherapy toxicity management remains under-reported. This review aimed to synthesise current evidence on pharmacist-led strategies to mitigate chemotherapy-related adverse effects. A narrative review was conducted across PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar for English-language studies published between 2015 and 2025. Boolean combinations of terms relating to clinical pharmacists, chemotherapy side effects and management strategies guided the search, and four independent reviewers applied predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria to identify relevant clinical trials, observational studies and systematic reviews. Forty-three studies met the criteria. Pharmacist-developed antiemetic protocols reduced chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting by up to 40 percent and increased treatment adherence by 18 percent. Educational interventions improved patient understanding of toxicity management and boosted adherence to supportive medications by 22 percent. Digital monitoring platforms facilitated early detection of neutropenia and mucositis, leading to fewer unplanned hospitalisations. Multidisciplinary models that embedded pharmacists reported superior patient satisfaction, lower readmission rates and improved completion of planned chemotherapy cycles compared with physician-centred care. Collectively, these findings underscore the clinical and organisational value of pharmacist involvement in oncology. Strengthening policy support, expanding specialised training and integrating scalable digital tools are essential next steps to maximise pharmacists’ contributions to cancer care.
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