Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2016 Aug 24:10:1609-21.
doi: 10.2147/PPA.S106629. eCollection 2016.

Patient-reported preferences for oral versus intravenous administration for the treatment of cancer: a review of the literature

Daniel Eek  1 , Meaghan Krohe  2 , Iyar Mazar  2 , Alison Horsfield  3 , Farrah Pompilus  2 , Rachel Friebe  2 , Alan L Shields  2
Affiliations
Review

Patient-reported preferences for oral versus intravenous administration for the treatment of cancer: a review of the literature

Daniel Eek et al. Patient Prefer Adherence. .

Abstract

Objective: The emergence of various modes of administration for cancer treatment, including oral administration, brings into focus the importance of patient preference for administration. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the administration preferences of cancer patients, specifically between oral and intravenous (IV) treatment, as well as the factors contributing to preference.

Methods: A literature search was conducted in OvidSP to identify research in which the preferences of cancer patients for oral or IV treatment have been evaluated. Data were analyzed in two stages: 1) those articles that directly compared preference between modes of administration were tallied to determine explicit preference for oral or IV treatment; and 2) all attributes associated with patient preference were documented.

Results: Of the 48 abstracts identified as part of the initial OvidSP search, eight articles were selected for full-text review. One article was removed following full-text review, and seven additional articles were identified through a gray literature search, yielding a total of 14 articles for evaluation. In Stage 1, 13 of the 14 articles compared preference, of which eleven articles (84.6%) reported that patients preferred oral treatment over IV, while two (15.4%) stated that cancer patients preferred IV treatment over oral. In Stage 2, the most frequently reported attributes contributing to preference included convenience, ability to receive treatment at home, treatment schedule, and side effects.

Discussion: Evidence suggests that oncology patients prefer oral treatment to IV. Rationale for preference was due to a number of factors, including convenience, perception of efficacy, and past experience. Further evaluation should be conducted, given the limited data on patient preference in oncology.

Keywords: literature review; mode of administration; oncology; patient preference; treatment.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Rowland JH, Kent EE, Forsythe LP, et al. Cancer survivorship research in Europe and the United States: where have we been, where are we going, and what can we learn from each other? Cancer. 2013;119(Suppl 11):2094–2108. - PMC - PubMed
    1. American Cancer Society . Cancer Treatment and Survivorship Facts & Figures 2014–2015. Atlanta, GA: American Cancer Society; 2014.
    1. Zagadailov E, Fine M, Shields A. Patient-reported outcomes are changing the landscape in oncology care: challenges and opportunities for payers. Am Health Drug Benefits. 2013;6(5):264–274. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Batlle JF, Arranz EE, de Castro Carpeño J, et al. Oral chemotherapy: potential benefits and limitations. Rev Oncol. 2004;6(6):335–340.
    1. European Medicines Agency European Medicines Agency recommends approval of 44 medicines for human use and six medicines for veterinary use in first half 2013. [Accessed June 2, 2015]. Available from: http://www.ema.europa.eu/ema/index.jsp?curl=pages/news_and_events/news/2....