Assessment of Medication Use Pattern and Drug-Drug Interactions among Prostate Cancer Patients.

INTRODUCTION

Prostate cancer is a common malignancy affecting the prostate gland in men, particularly those over 65. In 2022, prostate cancer accounted for about 1.5 million new cases and 397,000 deaths globally, making it the second most common cancer in men.  Managing prostate cancer often involves complex treatment regimens, which increase the risk of drug-drug interactions (DDIs), potentially leading to reduced drug efficacy or increased toxicity. Understanding and managing these interactions is crucial for patient safety and treatment success.

OBJECTIVES

The study aims to investigate the medication use patterns using the WHO core prescribing indicators and to identify the potential drug-drug interactions in prostate cancer.

METHODOLOGY

This ambispective study will be conducted at the Department of Urology and Oncology, Justice KS Hegde Charitable Hospital in Deralakatte, Mangalore. The sample size is calculated to be approximately 150 participants. The study will span six months, from September 2024 to February 2025, and include all the Prostate Cancer patients treated last 2 years and all the in-patients and out-patients in the Urology and Oncology department, with certain exclusion such as patients who had undergone surgery ADT.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Continuous data will be expressed as Mean ± SD. Categorical data will be expressed in frequency percentages.  Data analysis will be carried out using SPSS software version 29.

ANTICIPATED OUTCOME

The study will identifies common drug use patterns among prostate cancer patients and it emphasizes the importance of identifying and categorizing potential drug-drug interactions (DDIs) to optimize treatment and ensure patient safety. The goal is to manage DDIs effectively, improve patient outcomes, and enhance the quality of care.