A comparative analysis of the attitudes of doctors and patients towards adherence behaviour and information provision.

Abstract

Abstract Abstract #6150 Background: Research into adherence to breast cancer therapies has primarily focused upon quantifying adherence rates of patients with an absence of research into the factors affecting adherence behaviour, however, the practitioner-patient relationship is the medium within which the importance of adherence may be discussed and extra support provided. This study is the first to directly compare the attitudes of clinicians and patients towards adherence and information provision using Fishbein's validated model of attitude measurement. Methods: Separate studies completed in 2008 measured attitudes towards adherence and patient information for Australian breast cancer specialists (n=41) and breast cancer patients enrolled in Verve, the Arimidex patient support programme (n=125). These studies were approved by the Southern Cross University Human Research Ethics Committee and survey response rates of 58% for patients and 68% for specialists were achieved. Independent sample t-tests were used to measure differences between clinicians and patients importance and belief strength ratings on the composite variables of disease, product information, lifestyle information, support materials and adherence behaviour. Differences between low and high-risk patient groups were a particular focus of data analysis. Results: Specialists significantly underestimated the importance low and high-risk patients place on many aspects of adherence and patient information. Specialists believe low-risk patients are less likely than high-risk patients to adhere to treatment and understand their condition, product information or lifestyle factors. This view is not supported by the patient data which showed there was no significant difference between patient risk categories in terms of the importance patients placed upon adherence behaviour and the provision of information. Conclusions: There are significant discrepancies between the importance Australian breast cancer specialists and breast cancer patients place on some aspects of their disease management. Specialists attitudes towards high-risk patients are more aligned than they are for low-risk patients. Conversely, these data show that a patientÂs breast cancer risk category does not correlate with the importance that patients place upon adherence behaviour and the provision of information. These data suggest that the provision of information should be extended equally to all early breast cancer patients regardless of their risk of recurrence. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr 6150.