Barriers to Adherence to Oral Hormonal Therapy Among Breast Cancer Women

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Oral hormonal medication is an essential part of the management of breast cancer for hormone receptor-positive patients. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate barriers to adherence to oral hormonal therapy among breast cancer women. METHOD: A descriptive study was utilized on 200 adult women diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, newly received oral hormonal therapy. Those women were admitted to the outpatient clinic at South Egypt Cancer Institute at Assiut University. Using interview questionnaire sheet included, demographics, medical data, patient knowledge assessment, Morisky Medication adherence scale, and factors affecting drug adherence checklist. RESULTS: The highest percentage among the studied sample their age was above 4o years (91%). Around (50%) the duration of illness was more than 5 years. 57% of patients the duration of oral hormonal therapy was more the three years. Our study explores that studied patients nearly had no knowledge regarding all items of oral hormonal therapy.  In addition, most of them are not compliant with oral hormonal therapy. The most important predictor factors for medication compliance are psychological/behavioral factors. CONCLUSION: Most of the patients are not compliant with oral hormonal therapy, so, nurses should counsel cancer patients about oral hormonal therapy, addressing reasons for no adherence and handling them.