Effect of Physician-Pharmacist Participation in the Management of Ambulatory Cancer Pain Through a Digital Health Platform: Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: Self-management of ambulatory cancer pain is full of challenges. Motivated by the need for better pain management, we developed a WeChat-supported platform, Medication Housekeeper (MediHK), to enhance communication, optimize outcomes, and promote self-management in the home setting.

Objective: We conducted a randomized controlled trial to assess whether the joint physician-pharmacist team through MediHK would provide better self-management of ambulatory patients with cancer pain.

Methods: Patients were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or control group. During the 4-week study period, the pharmacist would send 24-hour pain diaries daily, adverse drug reaction (ADR) forms every 3 days, and the Brief Pain Inventory form every 15 days to patients in the intervention group via MediHK. If a patient needed a change in drug/dosage or treatment of an ADR after the comprehensive review, the pharmacist would propose pharmacological interventions to the attending physician, who was then responsible for prescribing or adjusting pain medications. If no adjustments were needed, the pharmacist provided appropriate targeted education based on knowledge deficits. Patients in the control group received conventional care and did not receive reminders to fill out the forms. However, if the control group patients filled out a form via MediHK, the pain management team would review and respond in the same way as for the intervention group. The primary outcomes included pain intensity and pain interference in daily life. Secondary outcomes included patient-reported outcome measures, medication adherence, ADRs, and rehospitalization rates.

Results: A total of 100 patients were included, with 51 (51%) in the intervention group and 49 (49%) in the control group. The worst pain scores, least pain scores, and average pain scores in the intervention group and the control group were statistically different, with median values of 4 (IQR 3-7) vs 7 (IQR 6-8; P=.001), 1 (IQR 0-2) vs 2 (IQR 1-3; P=.02), and 2 (IQR 2-4) vs 4 (IQR 3-5; P=.001), respectively, at the end of the study. The pain interference on patients' general activity, mood, relationships with others, and interests was reduced, but the difference was not statistically significant compared with the control group (Ps=.10-.76). The medication adherence rate increased from 43% to 63% in the intervention group, compared with an increase of 33% to 51% in the control group (P<.001). The overall number of ADRs increased at 4 weeks, and more ADRs were monitored in the intervention group (P=.003). Rehospitalization rates were similar between the 2 groups.

Conclusions: The joint physician-pharmacist team operating through MediHK improved pain management. This study supports the feasibility of integrating the internet into the self-management of cancer pain.

Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1900023075; https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=36901.

Keywords: ambulatory setting; cancer pain; digital health; physician-pharmacist; self-management.