Oncology Competencies
‍Training  - Clinical Oncology Pharmacy Toolkit ‍
‍Last Reviewed April 2025‍

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Essential
Enhanced
PILLAR 1: Professional Practice in Cancer Care
  • 1.1
    Exemplify professionalism
    Essential
  • 1.2
    Communicate effectively
    Essential
  • 1.3
    Document activities as per professional and institutional requirements
    Essential
  • 1.4
    Appropriately respond to drug information questions
    Essential
  • 1.5
    Demonstrate a commitment to practice proficiency
    Essential
  • 1.6
    Exercise leadership
    Enhanced
  • 1.7
    Foster collaboration with members of the patient care team
    Essential
  • 1.8
    Foster a culture of patient safety
    Essential
PILLAR 2: Knowledge of Cancer and its Management
  • 2.1
    Maintain knowledge of cancer terminology
    Essential
  • 2.2
    Maintain knowledge of etiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and incidence of cancer
    Essential
  • 2.3
    Maintain knowledge of cancer risk factors, prevention, and screening
    Enhanced
  • 2.4
    Maintain expertise in anticancer pharmacotherapy
    Essential
  • 2.5
    Maintain expertise in supportive care and toxicity management
    Essential
  • 2.6
    Maintain knowledge of health outcomes based on cancer disease and patient factors
    Enhanced
  • 2.7
    Maintain knowledge of cancer-related drug literature and clinical trials
    Essential
  • 2.8
    Maintain knowledge of strategies to optimize health during survivorship
    Enhanced
  • 2.9
    Maintain knowledge of social determinants of health (SDoH) and health inequalities and their impact on cancer
    Enhanced
PILLAR 3: Safe and Appropriate Use of Anticancer and Supportive Care Pharmacotherapy
  • 3.1
    Collect the appropriate information required for cancer-related pharmacotherapy assessment
    Essential
  • 3.2
    Ensure the cancer-related pharmacotherapy plan is indicated and appropriate
    Essential
  • 3.3
    Ensure the drug, dose, formulation, and scheduling is expected to be effective to meet the cancer-related health
    Essential
  • 3.4
    Ensure the cancer-related drug, dose, formulation, and scheduling is expected to be safe
    Essential
  • 3.5
    Evaluate if the cancer-related drug is reasonably accessible
    Essential
  • 3.6
    Optimize patient adherence to cancer-related pharmacotherapy
    Essential
  • 3.7
    Ensure follow-up and ongoing pharmacist assessment as appropriate
    Essential
  • 3.8
    Ensure safety standards are maintained in anticancer pharmacotherapy preparation, distribution, dispensing
    Essential
PILLAR 4: Person-Centered Care in Oncology
  • 4.1
    Recognize persons with cancer as individuals with unique characteristics, values and health needs
    Essential
  • 4.2
    Establish and maintain a professional relationship with the person with cancer and their care partner(s)
    Essential
  • 4.3
    Gather relevant information in the provision of patient care
    Essential
  • 4.4
    Assess the patient's cancer-related pharmacotherapy needs
    Essential
  • 4.5
    Identify actual and potential drug therapy problems (DTPs) affecting cancer-related pharmacotherapy
    Essential
  • 4.6
    Develop a patient-centered care plan addressing cancer-related pharmacotherapy needs
    Essential
  • 4.7
    Implement and follow-through with the care plan
    Essential
  • 4.8
    Educate, engage, and support patients and care partner(s) regarding cancer management
    Essential
  • 4.9
    Prioritize health equity, inclusion, and accessibility in patient care activities
    Essential
PILLAR 5: Health Promotion and Advocacy
  • 5.1
    Advance the practice of oncology pharmacy
    Enhanced
  • 5.2
    Advocate for and engage in the full scope of practice for oncology pharmacists
    Enhanced
  • 5.3
    Advocate for patients and care partner(s) to optimize health outcomes and wellbeing
    Essential
  • 5.4
    Advocate for appropriate cancer prevention, screening, and risk reduction strategies
    Enhanced
  • 5.5
    Advocate for strategies to improve health outcomes for underserved populations
    Enhanced
  • 5.6
    Advocate for economic sustainability in cancer-related pharmacotherapy
    Enhanced
  • 5.7
    Advocate for planetary considerations in oncology pharmacy practice
    Enhanced

More details on the CAPhO Competencies:  

https://www.capho.org/resources/competencies-oncology-pharmacists-canada