Patients’ understanding and adherence to oral anti-cancer medication (OAM): Results of an institutional pilot study.

Abstract

e18280 Background: Advancements in biopharmaceuticals have led to increasing availability and use of OAM. While oral medications allow patients (pts) to receive treatment at home, OAM use introduces new challenges related to prescription filling, monitoring for and reporting of side effects, safe medication handling, and adherence. We assessed understanding of and adherence to OAM in pts vulnerable to these home-based challenges. Methods: This 2018 pilot study defined vulnerable pts based on spoken language (Chinese), older age (≥65 yrs), and public insurance ( < 65 yrs). All pts had a cancer diagnosis, had been taking an OAM, and received prescriptions through the hospital’s specialty pharmacy. Prior to a clinic visit, pts completed patient-reported measures about OAM taking and handling. Clinical characteristics were extracted from medical records; medication information was extracted from pharmacy records. The study team’s specialty pharmacist (DH) classified patient-reported responses about OAM taking (days per week, times per day, special instructions) and handing (handling, storage, disposal) as adequate or inadequate. OAM regimens were classified by complexity based on number of drugs and schedule. Results: Of 61 eligible pts, 55 participated (90%). Mean age was 68 yrs (SD 12) and 53% were female. Pt subgroups were: 27% Chinese, 64% ≥65 yrs, and 9% < 65 yrs with public insurance. 33% had solid tumor and 67% had hematologic malignancy; tyrosine kinase inhibitor was the most OAM type (42%). 49% of pts were on front-line therapy and overall median time on OAM was 1 year (Q1 0.4, Q3 1.7). Adequacy of OAM taking (30%) and handling (15%) were low; only 15% had adequacy in both. Pt subgroup and regimen complexity did not vary by adequacy of OAM taking or handling. 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 how OAM should be taken and handled in a group of vulnerable pts was strikingly low and did not align with pts’ self-reports of adherence. Future interventions are needed to ensure that pts understand how to safely take and handle OAM, thereby optimizing their therapeutic potential.