Relationship of pre-diagnosis pharmacist continuity with patient-reported satisfaction at the first post-diagnosis community pharmacy visit among adolescents and young adults with cancer: a nationwide cross-sectional online survey.

BACKGROUND

Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer often face developmental stage-specific challenges related to education and employment, interpersonal relationships, fertility, and family formation. Psychosocial support is important in cancer care, especially since psychological distress and anxiety tend to increase immediately after diagnosis. Some patients have an established relationship with a community pharmacist before diagnosis, but it remains unclear whether such continuity is associated with patient-reported satisfaction with pharmacist consultations during the early post-diagnosis period. Using nationwide survey data, this study investigated the association between patient-reported satisfaction at the first community pharmacy visit after an initial cancer diagnosis, assessed using the Medical Interview Satisfaction Scale Japanese version (MISS-21J), and pre-diagnosis pharmacist continuity.

METHODS

A nationwide cross-sectional online survey was conducted from March 25 to 27, 2025. Data were analyzed for 407 patients with an initial cancer diagnosis who were diagnosed at age 15-39 years and visited a community pharmacy after diagnosis. Participants were grouped according to the presence or absence of pre-diagnosis pharmacist continuity. The prespecified primary outcomes were the MISS-21J distress relief and rapport subscale scores, which reflect domains of patient-reported satisfaction with pharmacist consultations. Multivariable linear regression models (ordinary least squares) were fitted, adjusting for age at diagnosis, sex, cancer type, residential area, parents available, partner status, and minor children. Adjusted means (least-squares means; LSMeans) and adjusted mean differences with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported.

RESULTS

For distress relief, the adjusted mean was 5.33 in patients with pre-diagnosis pharmacist continuity and 4.72 in those without such continuity (adjusted mean difference: 0.61; 95% CI, 0.42-0.81; p < 0.001). For rapport, the adjusted mean was 5.20 in patients with pre-diagnosis pharmacist continuity and 4.60 in those without such continuity (adjusted mean difference: 0.60; 95% CI, 0.41-0.80; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Among AYAs newly diagnosed with cancer, pre-diagnosis pharmacist continuity was associated with higher patient-reported satisfaction with pharmacist consultations, particularly in the MISS-21J domains of distress relief and rapport. These findings highlight the potential value of accessible, continuous relationships with pharmacists in improving patients' perceived pharmaceutical care experience during the early post-diagnosis period.