"It's just a tablet"
Oral anticancer care clinic. GRICS service improvement grant
The increasing availability of oral anti-cancer medications has transformed cancer treatment, offering patients greater flexibility and convenience. However, these treatments require the same level of care and oversight as traditional systemic anti-cancer therapies. Guidelines from COSA, eviQ, Cancer Council, CNSA, and the Oncology Nursing Society emphasise the need for consistent patient care, yet historically, patients on oral anti-cancer medications have not been linked with cancer care nurses. Instead, education has been provided primarily by prescribing doctors and dispensing pharmacists, leading to gaps in patient support. Recognising this, West Gippsland Healthcare Group, in partnership with Monash University School of Rural Health, has launched the ‘It’s Just a Tablet!’ Oral Anticancer Care Clinic through a GRICS Service Improvement Grant.
The pilot clinic aims to develop and test a supportive care screening, education, and monitoring pathway for regional cancer patients in West Gippsland prescribed oral anti-cancer medications. This initiative is centred on evidence-based guidelines and informed by consultations with oncologists, pharmacists, consumer groups, and prescribing data. Trends in the dispensing of oral anti-cancer medications across Australia over the past decade, analysed by Dr. Michael Leach, highlight a gap in national data. While studies on oral prescribing, dispensing, and usage exist in North America and Europe, there is limited Australian-specific literature. This clinic seeks to address that gap by optimising safe use and standardising care for patients receiving oral anti-cancer treatments. Key focus areas include adherence, risk mitigation, and identifying unmet supportive care needs—whether physical, emotional, practical, or social.
The research component of the clinic follows an observational pre/post study design incorporating both qualitative and quantitative elements. The primary objectives are to assess the acceptability and feasibility of integrating an oral anti-cancer supportive care pathway into routine practice and to evaluate pilot study methods. Additionally, limited efficacy-related outcomes will be examined. This research will contribute to a broader understanding of oral anti-cancer treatment management and inform the expansion of this care model to optimise safety and patient experience.
West Gippsland Healthcare Group in partnership with Monash University
Sinead Hickmott – Project Lead, Registered Nurse, WGHG
Dr Eli Ristevski – Monash University, Senior Lecturer, Rural Health Researcher
Dr Michael Leach – Monash University, Senior Lecturer, Rural Health Researcher, Biostatistician, Pharmacist.
