Assessment of the potential impact of dose rounding parenteral chemotherapy agents on cost savings and drug waste minimization

BackgroundFiscally responsible utilization of anticancer treatments is necessary to combat their continually increasing cost. Dose rounding is one strategy that has been explored to minimize cost and waste without losing clinical effectiveness.ObjectivesTo determine if dose rounding chemotherapy agents is a feasible cost-containment strategy at an institution with a small oncology clinic.MethodsThis study is a retrospective chart review of all body surface area dosed parenteral chemotherapy prescribed for an oncological diagnosis over a 12-month period (1 October 2015–30 September 2016). Chemotherapy doses were rounded down by 5%. Doses for patients with metastatic diagnoses were also rounded down by 10%. Rounded doses were evaluated for a potential decrease in vial size. Cost was represented as dollar/milligram of drug. Potential for drug waste minimization was also calculated.ResultsThere were 877 total doses of chemotherapy administered to 70 unique patients throughout the 12-month duration of the stud...