Lecture Summary

Development of oral anti-cancer agents/therapies has changed paradigms of both treatment and patient education. Oral anti-cancer agents account for over half of new cancer treatments approved by the US FDA and has changed the cancer care delivery model. The responsibility of costly, complex oncolytic medication administration and adherence, self-management of symptoms and side effects, and monitoring for interactions has shifted to the patient and their caregivers. Adherence with oral agents for cancer treatment is essential for optimal outcomes; however, studies focused on oral chemotherapy showed adherence ranging from 46% to 100%. Factors influencing adherence are numerous, as medication adherence is complex and involves patient, physician, and process components. Although the primary responsibility for adherence to oral anti-cancer treatments lies with the patient, the oncology health care team can have a significant impact on adherence to oral therapies. Nurses are uniquely situated within the oncology medical team to educate patients about the goals of treatment, how to take their medication and how to manage side effects. Evidence based recommendations were an adherence risk assessment, education addressing adherence, ongoing assessment, proactive follow-up, coaching, and motivational interviewing in addition to usual care. Since numerous factors contribute to patient medication adherence, it is unlikely that one single approach will be optimally effective. Instead, providers should use a multidisciplinary approach to promote medication adherence in their cancer patients.

Target Audience

Oncology nurses
Trainee oncology doctors
General practitioners

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this activity, you should be able to:

• Identify key issues/challenges related oral anti-cancer medications
• Recognise the complexity and the factors influencing medication adherence
• Discuss the strategies to improve adherence and patient outcomes

None.