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
. 2021 Oct;27(7):1569-1577.
doi: 10.1177/1078155220960809. Epub 2020 Oct 6.

Assessment of patients' understanding of and adherence to oral anticancer medication (OAM): Results of a cross-sectional institutional pilot study

Angie Mae Rodday  1 , Douglas Hackenyos  1 , Raisa Masood  1 , Nicole Savidge  1 , Mingqian Lin  1 , Ruth Ann Weidner  1 , Susan K Parsons  1
Affiliations

Assessment of patients' understanding of and adherence to oral anticancer medication (OAM): Results of a cross-sectional institutional pilot study

Angie Mae Rodday et al. J Oncol Pharm Pract. 2021 Oct.

Abstract

Background: Although oral anticancer medications (OAM) provide opportunity for treatment at home, challenges include prescription filling, monitoring side effects, safe handling, and adherence. We assessed understanding of and adherence to OAM in vulnerable patients.

Methods: This 2018 pilot study defined vulnerable patients based on Chinese language, older age (≥65 years), and subsidized insurance. All participants had a cancer diagnosis and were taking an OAM filled through the hospital's specialty pharmacy. Participants reported on OAM taking (days per week, times per day, special instructions) and handling (handling, storage, disposal). The specialty pharmacist classified patient-reported responses about OAM taking and handling as adequate or inadequate. OAM regimens were classified by complexity.

Results: Of 61 eligible patients, 55 participated. Mean age was 68 years (standard deviation [SD] = 12) and 53% were female. Patient subgroups were: 27% Chinese, 64% ≥65 years, and 9% subsidized insurance. Forty-nine percent were on frontline therapy and median time on OAM was 1 year (Quartile 1 = 0.4, Quartile 3 = 1.7). Adequacy of OAM taking (30%) and handling (15%) were low; 15% had adequacy in both. Adequacy of OAM taking and handling did not vary by patient subgroup or regimen complexity. Mean patient-reported adherence was high (5.4, SD = 1, possible range 1-6) and did not vary by adequacy of OAM taking or handling.

Conclusions: Understanding of OAM taking and handling in this group of vulnerable patients was low and did not align with patient-reported adherence. Future interventions should ensure that patients understand how to safely take and handle OAM, thereby optimizing their therapeutic potential.

Keywords: Oral anti-cancer medication; adherence; crosssectional study; drug cost assistance program; vulnerable populations.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests

The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

References

    1. US Food & Drug Administration (FDA). Hematology/Oncology (Cancer) Approvals & Safety Notifications, www.fda.gov/drugs/resources-information-approved-drugs/hematologyoncolog... (accessed 12 August 2020).
    1. Given BA, Spoelstra SL and Grant M. The challenges of oral agents as antineoplastic treatments. Semin Oncol Nurs 2011; 27: 93–103. - PubMed
    1. Gebbia V, Bellavia G, Ferrau F, et al. Adherence, compliance and persistence to oral antineoplastic therapy: a review focused on chemotherapeutic and biologic agents. Expert Opin Drug Saf 2012; (11 Suppl 1): S49–59. - PubMed
    1. Cramer JA, Roy A, Burrell A, et al. Medication compliance and persistence: terminology and definitions. Value Health 2008; 11: 44–47. - PubMed
    1. Mathes T, Pieper D, Antoine SL, et al. Adherence influencing factors in patients taking oral anticancer agents: a systematic review. Cancer Epidemiol 2014; 38: 214–226. - PubMed