COSA guidelines for the safe prescribing, dispensing and administration of systemic cancer therapy
These guidelines were open for public consultation from 29 May 2017 to 23 June 2017. The public consultation has now closed and the guidelines have been finalised. Please contact COSA if you have any feedback.
Foreword
Guideline development process
Summary of recommendations
General Information
What competencies and skills are required for the safe provision of cancer therapy?
What resources are required for the safe provision of cancer therapy?
What are the documentation requirements to support the safe provision of cancer therapy?
What information should be included in a treatment protocol for cancer therapy?
How is dosage of cancer therapy calculated for adults?
How is dosage of cancer therapy calculated for paediatric patients?
What information should be provided to patients and carers about the cancer therapy?
What additional safety practices should be followed when providing oral cancer therapy?
What are the special safety considerations when providing intrathecal cancer therapy?
Which cancer medications are more prone to errors?
Can the use of complementary and integrative medicines affect the safety of cancer therapy?
How can risk assessment and quality assurance activities minimise errors in cancer therapy?
What occupational health and safety precautions should be followed when providing cancer therapy?
Role of the Prescriber
What competencies and skills are required when prescribing cancer therapy?
What is best practice for documenting and communicating the treatment plan?
How should information be presented in the medication order to minimise errors?
What is best practice when prescribing oral cancer treatment (chemotherapy and targeted therapy)?
What is best practice when prescribing intrathecal therapy?
Role of the Pharmacist
What are the responsibilities of the Pharmacist when dispensing and supplying cancer therapy?
What competencies and skills are required when dispensing and supplying cancer therapy?
What is the procedure for the Pharmacist when clinically verifying cancer prescriptions?
How should information be presented on a medication label for cancer therapy to minimise errors?
What safety processes should be followed for preparation and delivery of cancer therapy?
What is best practice when dispensing oral cancer treatment (chemotherapy and targeted therapy)?
What is best practice when dispensing and supplying intrathecal therapy?
Role of the Nurse
What are the responsibilities of the Nurse when administering cancer therapy?
What competencies and skills are required when administering cancer therapy?
What information and assessments are required prior to administering cancer therapy?
How should chemotherapy be safely administered via different routes?
What actions should be performed post-administration of cancer therapy to maximise safety?
Appendices
Working group members and contributors
Survey Monkey evaluation report (March 2016)
Final search strategies (all databases)
Search strategy results (all databases)
Three month bridging search results (March-May 2016)