Sequencing of antineoplastic drug administration: Contributions to evidence-based oncology nursing practice

Abstract

The objective of this study was to find scientific evidence of drug interactions between antineoplastic drugs that result from the administration sequence and then describe the best sequence and discuss its applicability to nursing care systematization (NCS). An integrative review of the literature was carried out in 2018 in the MEDLINE, LILACS, CINAHL, and BVS databases, with the terms neoplasms, drug Therapy, drug Interactions, chemotherapy, and sequence of administration. Fifty-seven studies were analyzed, which, as a set, studied 40 combinations of antineoplastic drugs and found pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions resulting from the sequence of administration, which supported the construction of a chart that indicates the best sequence for each of those combinations. Along with the chart, a flowchart was also made to support NCS in the context of evidence-based oncology nursing practice. Selecting the sequences of antineoplastic drug administration is a new conceptual strategy designed for nurses who carry out multidrug therapy.