Perceptions and needs of community pharmacy teams when caring for pediatric oncology patients : A multicenter study conducted in France

IntroductionCommunity pharmacy staffs play an essential role in the care pathway for children with cancer. The diversity of pediatric cancers, the rarity of cases and the complexity of treatment protocols can pose challenges for community pharmacy teams and potentially compromise the quality of care. This study explores the perceptions and needs of community pharmacy teams included in the care of pediatric oncology patients in order to identify ways of improving the care pathway for children with cancer. No studies specifically addressing this research question have been identified in the scientific literature. METHODS: A descriptive, non-randomised, multicentre study was conducted among community pharmacy teams in four regions of western France who had cared at least one child newly diagnosed with pediatric cancer between May and November 2024. All professionals working in community pharmacies were invited to individually complete a questionnaire on line (3 parts; 33 questions), developed and validated by the Pharmacists Working Group (WG) of the interregional organisation Grand Ouest Cancer de l'Enfant (GOCE). Responses to the questionnaire were collected anonymously between 4 April and 15 June 2025. RESULTS: The questionnaire was sent to 117 community pharmacy teams. After four reminders, 49 responses were received. The main difficulties reported concerned the lack of appropriate resources (100.0%), training deemed insufficient (98.0%) and limited coordination between town and hospital (87.8%). Despite these obstacles, community pharmacy teams expressed strong motivation to provide the best possible support to pediatric oncology patients and showed a marked interest in training in pediatric oncology tailored to their practices. CONCLUSIONS: The study highlights several approaches to meeting the needs of community pharmacy teams: developing practical tools (interactive platforms, patient brochures, dummy medicines), strengthening communication around training, diversifying training methods (webinars, fun materials), and improving coordination between community and hospital settings. These measures appear essential to improve the care pathway for children with cancer.