Patterns of Supportive Medication Use Among Oncology Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: In oncology, supportive medicines play an important role in preventing or managing treatment toxicity and in maintaining tolerance to systemic cancer treatment. This study aimed to describe the supportive medication use, indications, medication-related problems, and clinical outcomes of oncology patients receiving chemotherapy. Methods: This study involved 160 adults with solid or hematological malignancies treated with systemic chemotherapy. Cancer type, chemotherapy regimen, supportive medications, therapeutic indications, polypharmacy, medication-related problems, adverse drug reactions, and treatment outcomes were included. Data frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations, and medians were summarized in the results in SPSS version 26.0. Results: The age of the study population was 55.3 ± 12.8 years, with 90(56.3%) being female. In total, 151(94.4%) of patients had supportive drugs. The most commonly used drugs were antiemetics (90.6%), proton pump inhibitors 116(72.5%), corticosteroids 104(65.0%), and analgesics 97(60.6%). The mean supportive-medication burden was greatest for patients with hematological malignancies (4.6 ± 1.5). A total of 47(29.4%) patients had five or more supportive medicines, or "polypharmacy. 33(20.6%) had potential drug interactions, and 118(73.8%) had good symptom control, and 127(79.4%) finished chemotherapy as planned. Conclusions: Medications that supported patients' treatment and symptom management were widespread and effective. Medication reconciliation, screening for medication interactions, and pharmacist-led review of medication regimens can help prevent polypharmacy and medication-related problems, enhancing the safety and effectiveness of supportive care.