Résumé
Introduction: We conducted a nationwide questionnaire survey for care managers (CMs) regarding their awareness about the role of pharmacists in home medical care, and objectively analyzed the obtained data using text mining.Methods: Survey targets were CMs belonging to the Japan Care Manager Association (JCMA). A letter of request was mailed to the 47 prefectural branches of the JCMA. Only members of the JCMA who agreed to participate in this survey responded.Results: Responses were received from 206 CMs, 25% of whom had experience as medical professionals and 75% whom had experience as nursing care welfare staff. 90% of the 206 CMs replied "They are necessary" to the question "Are pharmacists necessary for home medical care?". Using text mining to identify the reason for answering "They are necessary", the characteristic keywords from the CMs with experience as medical professionals were "instruction" and "internal use". On the other hand, the characteristic keyword from the CMs with experience as nursing care welfare staff was "consultation".Conclusion: The CMs with experience as medical professionals expected the pharmacists "to demonstrate their expertise to patients, families, and other professionals". On the other hand, the CMs with experience as nursing care welfare staff expected the pharmacists "to provide consultation on information about medications and side effects".
Résumé
<b>Purpose</b>: Patients who receive chemotherapy for colorectal cancer with the prophylactic dexamethasone (DEX) for antiemesis may experience an abnormal elevation in their casual blood glucose levels. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of such a DEX-induced elevation in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, and to emphasize the importance of pharmaceutical care in improving the quality of life of patients. <b>Methods</b>: We retrospectively analyzed data from 50 patients who had received chemotherapy with or without DEX. <b>Results</b>: Of the 30 patients who received DEX, 8 exhibited abnormally high blood glucose levels (>200 mg/dl on more than 2 occasions); 3 of these patients also had diabetes mellitus. None of the 20 patients who did not receive DEX exhibited a remarkable elevation in the blood glucose levels. <b>Conclusions</b>: We confirm that patients receiving concomitant administration of DEX with chemotherapy may exhibit elevated blood glucose levels. Because an increase in the blood glucose levels may produce symptoms indicative of diabetes such as fatigue, appropriate pharmaceutical care for early detection of the abnormal elevation in the blood glucose levels may be important in preventing complications in such patients.