Infusion-related reactions (IRRs) to systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT) are a familiar challenge in cancer care. We recognise them, manage them, and make critical decisions about ongoing treatment. But how well do we document them?
When patients transition between clinicians, services, or treatment settings, does the documentation provide healthcare professionals, patients, and carers with the information they need to support safe and informed care?
Despite the potential implications of an IRR for future treatment, there is currently no published best practice standard for documenting these events. Terminology, grading systems, documentation location, and the level of detail recorded can vary considerably. These inconsistencies may impact communication, continuity of care, patient safety, and subsequent treatment decisions.
To better understand these challenges and identify opportunities for improvement, a multifaceted approach was undertaken to develop a Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA) Position Statement on documentation of IRRs.
A scoping review was conducted to examine the existing evidence and identify gaps in the literature. This was complemented by a survey of healthcare professionals exploring how IRRs are documented across cancer treatment settings, including who documents them, what information is captured, where documentation is recorded, and areas of variation in current practice. In parallel, a consumer survey investigated patient and carer experiences, perspectives, and expectations regarding the communication and documentation of IRRs.
This presentation will share the key findings from this work, highlight areas where current practice can be strengthened, and discuss how we can move towards a consistent, best practice approach to documenting IRRs.