"Hospital Discharge of Cancer Patients in Palliative Care: Understanding the Process for Integration of Clinical Pharmaceutical Services"
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32635/2176-9745.RBC.2025v71n2.5050Keywords:
Neoplasms/drug therapy, Palliative Care, Patient Discharge, Pharmacist, Hospital to Home TransitionAbstract
Introduction: With the aging of the population, an increase in cancer incidence and demand for palliative care can be observed. The pharmacist, as a member of the multidisciplinary team, strives to ensure safety and comfort for the patient. Pharmaceutical care includes services such as medication reconciliation and health education, which help prevent medicationrelated errors during care transitions. Upon hospital discharge, this role is critical, as pharmacotherapy changes often occur during hospitalization, potentially causing medication-related problems at home. Objective: To conduct a situational diagnosis of the hospital discharge process, focusing on prescribed medications for home use and to understand the perception of healthcare professionals regarding the integration of the pharmacist into the team. Method: Qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive study conducted in an oncological palliative care hospital unit through semistructured interviews with physicians and nurses, using Bardin’s content analysis and the MAXQDA® software for data processing. Results: From the analysis of interviews with 12 professionals, three thematic dimensions emerged: criteria for defining hospital discharge, factors that may influence guidance and understanding of medication use at home, and the integration of the pharmacist in the hospital discharge process. Conclusion: The implementation of strategies at hospital discharge is essential to ensure medication safety and rational use for home treatment. Further studies are needed to enhance the understanding of this process and to guide the pharmacist’s actions in caring for patients with advanced cancer.
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