The development of an objective methodology to measure medication adherence to oral thiopurines in paediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia—an exploratory study

Adherence to Oral Chemotherapy in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia during Maintenance Therapy in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults: A Systematic Review

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common malignancy in children and young adults. Treatment is long and involves 2-3 years of a prolonged maintenance phase composed of oral chemotherapies. Adherence to these medications is critical to achieving good outcomes. However, adherence is difficult to determine, as there is currently no consensus on measures of adherence or criteria to determine nonadherence. Furthermore, there have been few studies in pediatric B-ALL describing factors associated with nonadherence. Thus, we performed a systematic review of literature on oral chemotherapy adherence during maintenance therapy in ALL following PRISMA guidelines. Published studies demonstrated various objective and subjective methods of assessing adherence without generalizable definitions of nonadherence. However, the results of these studies suggested that nonadherence to oral maintenance chemotherapy was associated with increased risk of relapse. Future studies of B-ALL therapy should utilize a uniform assessment of adherence and definitions of nonadherence to better determine the impact of nonadherence on B-ALL outcomes and identify predictors of nonadherence that could yield targets for adherence improving interventions.

[Practical management during maintenance therapy of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Recommendations of the French Society for Childhood and Adolescent Cancer and Leukemia (SFCE)]

Maintenance therapy is the last phase of treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children and adolescents. Although maintenance therapy is associated with toxicities and specific management issues, it is an essential phase of treatment that reduces the risk of relapse. The objective of this work is to propose a guide for the initiation, administration, and monitoring of maintenance therapy, and for the management of food, schooling, leisure, community life, risk of infection and links with family medicine.

Socioeconomic position and maintenance therapy in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A national cohort study

BACKGROUND

Socioeconomic differences in survival among children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have been reported in high-income countries and there is an unmet need for strategies to identify vulnerable patient subgroups. Reported differences in survival for children from families with different socioeconomic positions seem to arise when starting maintenance therapy. This could reflect reduced physician's compliance or family adherence to maintenance therapy.

METHODS

This nationwide cohort study with extensive monitoring of systemic methotrexate (MTX)/6-mercaptopurine (6MP) dosing and metabolite levels, retrospectively investigated 173 Danish children treated according to The Nordic Society for Pediatric Hematology and Oncology ALL2008 protocol from 2008 to 2016.

RESULTS

Significantly lower prescribed doses of MTX and 6MP were seen in the children in families with short parental education (short vs. medium vs. higher education: mMTX: 13.8, 16.2, and 18.6 mg/m² /week; p < .01; m6MP: 47.4, 64.9, and 66.1 mg/m² /day; p = .03) or parents unemployed/not in workforce (unemployed/not in workforce vs. mixed vs. at work: mMTX: 15.0, 19.9, and 17.2 mg/m² /week; p < .01; m6MP: 54.8, 72.0, and 65.1 mg/m² /day; p < .01). When assessing family adherence by analyzing MTX and 6MP metabolite levels, including per prescribed dose of MTX and 6MP, we found no significant differences by levels of parental education, affiliation to work market, or income (p > .05 for all comparisons).

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that inferior physician compliance to protocol recommendations on drug dosage rather than families' adherence to therapy may contribute to the association between socioeconomic position and cure rates in childhood ALL, although precise mechanisms remain to be explored.

Prevalence of non-adherence and non-compliance during maintenance therapy in adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and their associations with survival

OBJECTIVES

Explore patient adherence and physician compliance to protocol guidelines during maintenance therapy, including the association with survival in adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

METHODS

Blood counts, aminotransferase levels and prescribed 6-mercaptopurine (6MP)/methotrexate (MTX) doses were compared with the protocol guidelines to assess compliance. Non-adherence to the prescribed medication was confirmed in patients with unmeasurable 6MP metabolite levels and suspected in patients with low 6MP metabolites concurrent with aminotransferase and white blood cell count within normal ranges, while potential intermittent non-adherence was defined by >1.9 fold fluctuating 6MP metabolites.

RESULTS

Physicians' non-compliance with insufficient dose increments of 6MP/MTX despite white blood cell counts above the target level comprised a median of 20.1% (interquartile range 9.7-39.3%) of the observed time in maintenance therapy, yet no association to relapse was found (P = .17). Non-adherence to 6MP was confirmed in 9.8% (5 of 51 patients), suspected in an additional 9.8% (5 of 51 patients), and intermittent non-adherence was suspected in 52.6% (20 of 38 patients).

CONCLUSION

Although no association between non-compliance and leukemic relapse was found, likely due to lack of power, increased attention to this phase of ALL therapy is indicated.

Teenagers and Young Adults with Cancer: An Exploration of Factors Contributing to Treatment Adherence

This systematic appraisal explores the literature surrounding treatment adherence in teenagers and young adults (TYAs) with cancer, with the aim of identifying influential factors that could affect adherence rates. This area is particularly important due to the increased risk of relapse and death associated with nonadherent behavior. In addition, TYAs are found to be the age group least likely to adhere to medical regimes. A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted and seven studies met the inclusion criteria, the articles were then critiqued using a data extraction form and eight themes were generated and discussed. This review highlights the complexities and difficulties in measuring adherence, as well as the key factors affecting adherence, before identifying implications for practice. Good communication and relationships are crucial between all parties involved in TYAs’ care including the patients, professionals, parents, and peers. A model of adherence was adapted on the basis of the result of the systematic review, other literature pertaining to adherence in TYAs, and the clinical experience of the authors. Personal factors and external factors, along with treatment factors and interactions with the system all have an effect on the patient's response or ability to adhere. It is apparent that there is a need for more high-quality qualitative and quantitative research in this area, with an emphasis on finding interventions that directly improve adherence specific to this age group.

Promoting adherence in adolescents and young adults with cancer to optimize outcomes: A developmentally oriented narrative review

Adherence is a critical consideration in ongoing efforts to improve outcomes among adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer. In this narrative review, we embed existing conceptualizations of adherence within a developmental context to provide a novel vantage point from which to examine this important issue. Applying this developmentally oriented framework, we summarize the most current literature on strategies to enhance adherence in the AYA population. A developmentally informed approach to working with AYAs can elucidate unique strengths and vulnerabilities of this population and offer a new perspective on opportunities to respond to biopsychosocial barriers to adherence in a strengths-based, collaborative manner.

When Multiple Objective Measures of Medication Adherence Indicate Incongruent Adherence Results: An Example with Pediatric Cancer

Previous research suggests that children and adolescents with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) often have difficulty adhering to complex treatment regimens during the maintenance phase of therapy. Measurement of treatment adherence can be done via objective (e.g., electronic monitoring (EM), pharmacological assays) or subjective methods (patient, parent, or physician reports). This paper provides an illustration of recommended strategies for comparing discrepancies between two objective measures of medication adherence (e.g., behavioral adherence using electronic monitoring versus pharmacological adherence using 6-mercaptopurine (6MP) metabolite data) within a relatively large cohort of pediatric patients with ALL or LBL (N = 139) who had longitudinal data for both measures of medication adherence over a 15-month period. Additionally, individual- and family-level factors such as gender, socioeconomic status, household environment, and dose intensity will be examined to identify possible sources of discrepancies between adherence measures. This information will provide practical advice for physicians, healthcare providers, and psychologists in identifying nonadherence and the caveats therein so patients achieve the best possible health outcomes.

Adherence to Azathioprine/6-Mercaptopurine in Children and Adolescents with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Multimethod Study

BACKGROUND

Measurement of the degree of adherence is a key element for the evaluation of treatment efficacy and safety; thus, adherence plays an important role in clinical research and practice. The aim of this study was to investigate medication adherence in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) utilizing a multimethod assessment approach. A further aim was to examine factors that can influence adherence within this population.

METHODS

Medication adherence in 47 children (age range 3 to 17 years) with IBD in three centers in Northern Ireland and Jordan was assessed via subjective (parent and child versions of the Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS) specific questionnaire) and objective methods, that is, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) determination of the 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) and azathioprine (AZA) metabolites in packed red blood cell samples taken during a clinic visit. Beliefs about prescribed medicines were also assessed in parents/guardians using the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ).

RESULTS

An overall nonadherence to AZA/6-MP therapy in children with IBD was found to be 36.17% (17 out of 47 patients were classified as nonadherent using at least one of the assessment methods). A total of 41 patients (91.1%) were classified as adherent to AZA or 6-MP using the blood sampling, while adherence rates using the MARS questionnaire completed by children and parents/guardians were 60.6% and 72.7%, respectively. The latter provides a more longitudinal measure of adherence. Child self-reported nonadherence rates were significantly higher than parent/guardian reported rates (p=0.013). Binary logistic regression analysis identified age to be independently predictive of adherence, with adolescents (children aged ≥ 13 years old) more likely to be classified as nonadherent. Regarding the BMQ, when parental/guardian necessity beliefs outweighed concerns, that is, higher scores in the necessity-concern differential (NCD), adolescents were more likely to be classified as adherent.

CONCLUSION

Results provide evidence for ongoing adherence challenges in the paediatric population with IBD. It is recommended that parents/guardians (particularly of older children) and older children themselves, should receive enhanced counselling and education about their prescribed medicines.

Adolescents and young adults with cancer: aspects of adherence - a questionnaire study

Purpose

For adolescents and young adults (AYAs), a cancer diagnosis represents an extraordinary strike in a vulnerable phase of life. They have special needs that the medical system has to take into consideration, and they exhibit a lower degree of therapy adherence than both older and younger patients. The purpose of this study was first to analyze the adherence of AYAs with cancer compared to a group of older patients and, second, to determine correlated parameters, with focus on the psychosocial interaction between physicians and patients.

Patients and methods

In 2012, a complete 1 year cohort of patients reported, by use of a questionnaire, to the Rostock clinical cancer registry, and a group of older patients were invited to answer a multi-item set of questionnaires on a volunteer basis, leading to a population-based cross-sectional analysis. This included a bias due to non-answering which is unavoidable in such a setting. The questionnaire consisted of well-established standard questionnaires, a questionnaire on adherence that has just recently been published, and a self-written questionnaire focusing on patient–physician relationship. The responses were analyzed for our current study.

Results

Gender, religion, education, age, anxiety, family atmosphere, or physician–patient relationship were not significantly correlated to adherence in AYAs. However, markedly more AYAs, as compared to the older patients group, considered breaking off therapy and reported suboptimal communication with the physicians. Only the perceived physical illness could be identified as a factor related to adherence among the AYA group.

Conclusion

Our findings confirm the need for more focused approaches to serve the special needs of AYAs, with particular attention on specific items that showed up discriminating AYAs from older patients, that is, Internet use and communication with physicians. Here, further research is needed to examine adherence to specific treatment protocols.

Measuring Medication Adherence in Pediatric Cancer: An Approach to Validation

Objective

This study described the prospective relationship between pharmacological and behavioral measures of 6-mercaptopurine (6MP) medication adherence in a multisite cohort of pediatric patients diagnosed with cancer ( N  = 139).

Methods

Pharmacological measures (i.e., metabolite concentrations) assessed 6MP intake. Behavioral measures (e.g., electronic monitoring) described adherence patterns over time.

Results

Three metabolite profiles were identified across 15 months: one group demonstrated low levels of both metabolites (40.8%) consistent with nonadherence and/or suboptimal therapy; two other groups demonstrated metabolite clusters indicative of adequate adherence (59.2%). Those patients whose metabolite profile demonstrated low levels of both metabolites had consistently lower behavioral adherence rates.

Conclusions

To our knowledge, this was the first study to prospectively validate a pharmacological measure of medication adherence with a behavioral adherence measure in a relatively large sample of pediatric patients with cancer. Using multiple methods of adherence measurement could inform clinical care and target patients in need of intervention.

Adherence to 6-Mercaptopurine in children and adolescents with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Objective

Studies on children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) reported non-adherence in 2–54% of cases. The primary objective of this study was to assess rates of adherence to 6-MP using two different methods in children and adolescents with ALL. Secondary aim was to identify factors that influence adherence to 6-MP in children with ALL.

Methods

All eligible children with ALL who are (≤ 19) years old and receive 6-MP therapy for at least 1 month were approached to participate in the study. A total of 52 children with ALL and their primary caregivers were recruited. Adherence measures included an objective method (measuring 6-MP metabolites in packed Red Blood Cells (RBCs)) and a subjective method (using parent and child self-report via the Medication Adherence Report Scale; MARS; Adherence was defined as 90% or greater).

Results

Rates of adherence varied across the measurement methods. Packed RBCs sample analysis indicated forty-four patients (84.6%) to be adherent. Using the MARS questionnaires, a total of 49 children (94.2%) were classified as being adherent according to the parental MARS questionnaire scores, while all the 15 children (100%) who answered the MARS (child) questionnaire were classified as adherent. Overall adherence rate was 80.8% within the studied population.

Conclusion

MARS scale was shown to overestimate adherence compared to measurement of 6-MP metabolites in the blood. A combination of both methods led to increased detection of non-adherence to thiopurine in children with ALL.

Methotrexate polyglutamates as a potential marker of adherence to long-term therapy in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and juvenile dermatomyositis: an observational, cross-sectional study

Introduction

Methotrexate (MTX) is a cornerstone of treatment in a wide variety of inflammatory conditions, including juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM). However, owing to its narrow therapeutic index and the considerable interpatient variability in clinical response, monitoring of adherence to MTX is important. The present study demonstrates the feasibility of using methotrexate polyglutamates (MTXPGs) as a biomarker to measure adherence to MTX treatment in children with JIA and JDM.

Methods

Data were collected prospectively from a cohort of 48 children (median age 11.5 years) who received oral or subcutaneous (SC) MTX therapy for JIA or JDM. Dried blood spot samples were obtained from children by finger pick at the clinic or via self- or parent-led sampling at home, and they were analysed to determine the variability in MTXPG concentrations and assess adherence to MTX therapy.

Results

Wide fluctuations in MTXPG total concentrations (>2.0-fold variations) were found in 17 patients receiving stable weekly doses of MTX, which is indicative of nonadherence or partial adherence to MTX therapy. Age (P = 0.026) and route of administration (P = 0.005) were the most important predictors of nonadherence to MTX treatment. In addition, the study showed that MTX dose and route of administration were significantly associated with variations in the distribution of MTXPG subtypes. Higher doses and SC administration of MTX produced higher levels of total MTXPGs and selective accumulation of longer-chain MTXPGs (P < 0.001 and P < 0.0001, respectively).

Conclusions

Nonadherence to MTX therapy is a significant problem in children with JIA and JDM. The present study suggests that patients with inadequate adherence and/or intolerance to oral MTX may benefit from SC administration of the drug. The clinical utility of MTXPG levels to monitor and optimise adherence to MTX in children has been demonstrated.

Trial registration

ISRCTN Registry identifier: ISRCTN93945409. Registered 2 December 2011.

Thiopurine methyltransferase and treatment outcome in the UK acute lymphoblastic leukaemia trial ALL2003

The influence of thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) genotype on treatment outcome was investigated in the United Kingdom childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia trial ALL2003, a trial in which treatment intensity was adjusted based on minimal residual disease (MRD). TPMT genotype was measured in 2387 patients (76% of trial entrants): 2190 were homozygous wild-type, 189 were heterozygous for low activity TPMT alleles (166 TPMT*1/*3A, 19 TPMT*1/*3C, 3 TPMT*1/*2 and 1 TPMT*1/*9) and 8 were TPMT deficient. In contrast to the preceding trial ALL97, there was no difference in event-free survival (EFS) between the TPMT genotypes. The 5-year EFS for heterozygous TPMT*1/*3A patients was the same in both trials (88%), but for the homozygous wild-type TPMT*1/*1 patients, EFS improved from 80% in ALL97% to 88% in ALL2003. Importantly, the unexplained worse outcome for heterozygous TPMT*1/*3C patients observed in ALL97 (5-year EFS 53%) was not seen in ALL2003 (5-year EFS 94%). In a multivariate Cox regression analysis the only significant factor affecting EFS was MRD status (hazard ratio for high-risk MRD patients 4·22, 95% confidence interval 2·97–5·99, P < 0·0001). In conclusion, refinements in risk stratification and treatment have reduced the influence of TPMT genotype on treatment outcome in a contemporary protocol.

Household net worth, racial disparities, and hormonal therapy adherence among women with early-stage breast cancer

PURPOSE

Nonadherence to adjuvant hormonal therapy is common and is associated with increased prescription copayment amount and black race. Studies suggest that household wealth may partly explain racial disparities. We investigated the impact of net worth on disparities in adherence and discontinuation.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We used the OptumInsight insurance claims database to identify women older than age 50 years diagnosed with early breast cancer, from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2011, who were using hormonal therapy. Nonadherence was defined as a medication possession ratio of ≤ 80% of eligible days over a 2-year period. We evaluated the association of demographic and clinical characteristics, annual household income, household net worth (< $250,000, $250,000 to $750,000, or > $750,000), insurance type, and copayments (< $10, $10 to $20, or > $20) with adherence to hormonal therapy. Logistic regression analyses were conducted by sequentially adding sociodemographic and financial variables to race.

RESULTS

We identified 10,302 patients; 2,473 (24%) were nonadherent. In the unadjusted analyses, adherence was negatively associated with black race (odds ratio [OR], 0.76; P < .001), advanced age, comorbidity, and Medicare insurance. Adherence was positively associated with medium (OR, 1.33; P < .001) and high (OR, 1.66; P < .001) compared with low net worth. The negative association of black race with adherence (OR, 0.76) was reduced by adding net worth to the model (OR, 0.84; P < .05). Correcting for other variables had a minimal impact on the association between race and adherence (OR, 0.87; P = .08). The interaction between net worth and race was significant (P < .01).

CONCLUSION

We found that net worth partially explains racial disparities in hormonal therapy adherence. These results suggest that economic factors may contribute to disparities in the quality of care.

Medical and psychosocial associates of nonadherence in adolescents with cancer

The current study examined adherence to medication regimens among adolescents with cancer by applying the Pediatric Self-Management Model. Adolescents and their parents reported on adherence to medication, reasons for nonadherence, and patient-, family-, and community-level psychosocial variables. Adolescent- and parent-reported adherence were significantly correlated, with about half of the sample reporting perfect adherence. The majority reported "just forgot" as the most common reason for missed medication. Patient-, family-, and community-level variables were examined as predictors of adherence. With regard to individual factors, adolescents who endorsed perfect adherence reported a greater proportion of future-orientated goals and spent fewer days in outpatient clinic visits. For family factors, adolescents who endorsed perfect adherence reported greater social support from their family and were more likely to have a second caregiver who they perceived as overprotective. The community-level variable (social support from friends) tested did not emerge as a predictor of adherence. The results of this study provide direction for intervention efforts to target adolescent goals and family support in order to increase adolescent adherence to cancer treatment regimens.

The change from brand-name to generic aromatase inhibitors and hormone therapy adherence for early-stage breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Nonadherence to hormonal therapy is common and is associated with increased copayment amount. We investigated the change in adherence after the introduction of generic aromatase inhibitors (AIs) in 2010.

METHODS

Using deidentified pharmacy and claims data from OptumInsight, we identified women older than 50 years on brand-name AIs (BAIs) and/or generic AIs (GAIs) for early breast cancer between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2012. Clinical, demographic, and financial variables were evaluated. Adherence was defined as a medication possession ratio (MPR) 80% or greater.

RESULTS

We identified 5511 women, 2815 (51.1%) on BAI, 1411 (25.6%) on GAI, and 1285 (23.3%) who switched from BAI to GAI. The median 30-day copayment was higher for BAI ($33.3) than for GAI ($9.04). In a multivariable Cox-proportional hazard analysis, women who took GAI were less likely to discontinue therapy (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.69, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.57 to 0.84) compared with BAI. Discontinuation was positively associated with a higher monthly copayment of $15 to $30 (HR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.01 to 1.44) and more than $30 (HR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.23 to 1.80) compared with less than $15. In a multivariable logistic regression analysis, adherence (medication possession ratio ≥ 80%) was positively associated with GAI use (odds ratio = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.22 to 1.91) compared with BAI and inversely associated with increased monthly copayment. In addition, adherence was associated with a high annual income of more than $100k/year (odds ratio = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.17 to 2.11).

CONCLUSIONS

Higher prescription copayment amount was associated with nonadherence and discontinuation of AIs. After controlling for copayment, discontinuation was higher and adherence was lower with Brand AIs. Because nonadherence is associated with worse survival, efforts should be directed towards reducing out-of-pocket costs for these life-saving medications.

Adherence-related issues in adolescents and young adults with hematological disorders

Nonadherence to medical recommendations is a widespread problem well documented in a multitude of clinical settings. Nonadherence may adversely affect clinical outcomes such as survival and quality of life and increase health-care-related costs. An understanding of the factors driving nonadherence is key to developing effective adherence-enhancing interventions (AEIs). There are ongoing attempts in contemporary adherence research to better define the various components of adherence, to find optimal measures of adherence and correlations with clinical outcomes, and to create a classification system for AEIs. Nonadherence is also widely prevalent among adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with chronic hematological diseases, affecting up to 50% of patients and increasing with age. Combined use of objective (i.e. electronic monitoring, EM) and subjective (i.e. self-report) measures of adherence may be the preferred approach to assess adherence. The unique physical, social and emotional aspects of the AYA life stage are closely related to intricate causes of nonadherence in AYAs such as problems in transition to adult care. Until proven otherwise, the empirical target in AYAs with hematological disorders should be perfect adherence. Multilevel AEIs, EM feedback and behavioral interventions are among the most effective types of AEIs. Despite the magnitude of the problem, only a handful of AEIs have been evaluated among AYAs with hematological disorders. Thus, this is a field with unmet needs warranting high-quality trials using standardized and well-specified assessment methods and interventions. This review discusses the prevalence, definition, causes and clinical implications of nonadherence among AYAs with hematological disorders, along with strategies to measure and improve adherence.

Unusual causes of papilledema: Two illustrative cases

Background:

Neurosurgeons are frequently among the first physicians asked to evaluate patients with papilledema, and the patient is often referred with the implication that they may require shunting. After an initial evaluation to exclude potential neurosurgical emergencies, the physician should carefully consider various etiologies of papilledema to prevent unnecessary neurosurgical operations.

Case Description:

The authors report two illustrative cases of unusual causes of papilledema: Anemia and leukemic infiltration of the central nervous system. In each case, a complete blood count provided clues for the diagnosis. A review of the literature is also included.

Conclusions:

Both patients responded to medical management/treatment of the underlying disease and did not require neurosurgical operative intervention. Papilledema may be caused by other etiologies besides increased intracranial pressure. The authors present two unusual cases leading to papilledema and provide an outline for the workup of these conditions.

The challenges of oral agents as antineoplastic treatments

OBJECTIVES

Given the increasing use of oral antineoplastic agents in cancer management, patient adherence is critical to successful treatment outcomes. This article reviews the scope of the problem and issues of adherence to oral antineoplastic agents.

DATA SOURCES

Research-based and other articles, newsletters, and conference presentations.

CONCLUSION

Suboptimal adherence to oral antineoplastic agents is a significant clinical problem that may result in disease or treatment complications, adjustment in treatment regimen, disease progression, and premature death.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

Healthcare providers need to monitor and facilitate adherence by identifying barriers and implementing strategies to assure adherence, and therefore, improve clinical outcomes.

Association between prescription co-payment amount and compliance with adjuvant hormonal therapy in women with early-stage breast cancer

PURPOSE

Noncompliance with adjuvant hormonal therapy among women with breast cancer is common. Little is known about the impact of financial factors, such as co-payments, on noncompliance.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study by using the pharmacy and medical claims database at Medco Health Solutions. Women older than age 50 years who were taking aromatase inhibitors (AIs) for resected breast cancer with two or more mail-order prescriptions, from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2008, were identified. Patients who were eligible for Medicare were analyzed separately. Nonpersistence was defined as a prescription supply gap of more than 45 days without subsequent refill. Nonadherence was defined as a medication possession ratio less than 80% of eligible days.

RESULTS

Of 8110 women younger than age 65 years, 1721 (21.1%) were nonpersistent and 863 (10.6%) were nonadherent. Among 14,050 women age 65 years or older, 3476 (24.7%) were nonpersistent and 1248 (8.9%) were nonadherent. In a multivariate analysis, nonpersistence (ever/never) in both age groups was associated with older age, having a non-oncologist write the prescription, and having a higher number of other prescriptions. Compared with a co-payment of less than $30, a co-payment of $30 to $89.99 for a 90-day prescription was associated with less persistence in women age 65 years or older (odds ratio [OR], 0.69; 95% CI, 0.62 to 0.75) but not among women younger than age 65, although a co-payment of more than $90 was associated with less persistence both in women younger than age 65 (OR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.72 to 0.94) and those age 65 years or older (OR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.65 to 0.80). Similar results were seen with nonadherence.

CONCLUSION

We found that higher prescription co-payments were associated with both nonpersistence and nonadherence to AIs. This relationship was stronger in older women. Because noncompliance is associated with worse outcomes, future policy efforts should be directed toward interventions that would help patients with financial difficulties obtain life-saving medications.

Treatment non-adherence in teenage and young adult patients with cancer

Adhering to treatment can be a significant issue for many patients diagnosed with chronic health conditions and this has been reported to be greater during the adolescent years. However, little is known about treatment adherence in teenage and young adult (TYA) patients with cancer. To increase awareness of the adherence challenges faced by these patients, we have reviewed the published work. The available evidence suggests that a substantial proportion of TYA patients with cancer do have difficulties, with reports that up to 63% of patients do not adhere to their treatment regimens. However, with inconsistent findings across studies, the true extent of non-adherence for these young patients is still unclear. Furthermore, it is apparent that there are many components of the cancer treatment regimen that have yet to be assessed in relation to patient adherence. Factors that have been shown to affect treatment adherence in TYA patients include patient emotional functioning (depression and self-esteem), patient health beliefs (perceived illness severity and vulnerability), and family environment (parental support and parent-child concordance). Strategies that foster greater patient adherence are also identified. These strategies are multifactorial, targeting not only the patient, but the health professional, family, and treatment regimen. This review highlights the lack of interventional studies addressing treatment adherence in TYA patients with cancer, with only one such intervention being identified: a video game intervention focusing on behavioural issues related to cancer treatment and care. Methodological issues in measuring adherence are addressed and suggestions for improving the design of future adherence studies highlighted, of which there is a great need.