Patient-doctor relationship and adherence to capecitabine in outpatients of a German comprehensive cancer center

Satisfação dos responsáveis por adolescentes com as informações recebidas para o uso dos psicotrópicos em Unidade de Saúde Mental

Resumo Objetivo: Analisar a satisfação dos responsáveis por adolescentes com as informações recebidas para o uso dos medicamentos psicofármacos. Métodos: Estudo transversal realizado em ambulatório de referência entre 2017 e 2019, em Brasília, com 173 responsáveis por adolescentes diagnosticados com transtornos mentais e comportamentais em uso de psicofármacos. O questionário Satisfaction with Information about Medicines Scale (SIMS) foi utilizado para identificar o grau de satisfação em relação às informações recebidas sobre os medicamentos. Resultados: A maioria dos responsáveis estava insatisfeita quanto às informações recebidas sobre psicofármacos (n=112; 64,7%). Destacou-se a insatisfação com as informações sobre potenciais problemas do medicamento (n=127; 73,4%), quando comparada à ação e ao uso (n=89; 51,5%). As informações sobre o impacto do medicamento na vida sexual do adolescente foram consideradas insatisfatórias ou inexistentes. Conclusões: A satisfação dos responsáveis com as informações recebidas sobre psicofármacos foi baixa. Os participantes demonstraram insatisfação com as informações sobre potenciais problemas, especialmente às relacionadas ao impacto na vida sexual dos adolescentes.

Parents’ satisfaction with information received on psychotropic drugs used by adolescents in a Mental Health Unit

Abstract Objective: To analyze the satisfaction of those responsible for adolescents with information received for the use of psychotropic drugs. Methods: Cross-sectional study carried out in a reference outpatient clinic in Brasília between 2017 and 2019. It involved 173 legal representatives of adolescents diagnosed with Mental and Behavioral Disorders using psychotropic drugs. In order to identify the level of satisfaction about the information received on psychotropic drugs, the Satisfaction with Information about Medicines Scale (SIMS) was used. Results: Most guardians were dissatisfied with the information received on psychotropic drugs (n=112; 64.7%). The dissatisfaction with information about potential problems of medication was the one that stood out the most (n=127; 73.4%) when compared to information about action and usage (n=89; 51.5%). Participants considered information on the impact of medication on the adolescent’s sexual life unsatisfactory or nonexistent. Conclusions: The parents’ satisfaction with the information received about psychotropic drugs was low. Participants showed dissatisfaction with the information about potential problems, especially related to the impact on the sexual life of their tutored.

Psychosocial determinants of adherence with oral anticancer treatment: 'we don't need no education'

INTRODUCTION

Given the potentially fatal consequences of inadequate adherence with oral anticancer treatment in persons with cancer, understanding the determinants of adherence is vital. This paper aims at identifying psychosocial determinants of adherence to oral anticancer treatment.

METHODS

We reviewed the literature on psychosocial determinants of adherence with oral anticancer treatment, based on published literature in English, from 2015 to present. Literature searches were performed in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane library, Emcare, and PsychINFO, with 'cancer', 'medication adherence', 'psychology', and 'oral anticancer treatment' as search terms. The obtained 608 papers were screened by two independent reviewers.

RESULTS

In the 25 studies identified, illness perceptions, medication beliefs, health beliefs, and depression were found to be the major psychosocial determinants of adherence to oral anticancer treatment; sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were found to be of no major importance. The quality of the identified studies as assessed by two independent reviewers was found to be acceptable overall. The majority of papers were from North America and focused on patients with breast cancer; sample size varied from 13 to 1371; adherence was assessed with questionnaires derived from various theoretical models, pill counts and electronic pharmacy records; illness perceptions reflecting adaptive coping, and medication beliefs reflecting high necessity and low concerns were found to be associated with adherence.

CONCLUSION

Psychosocial concepts are major determinants of adherence with oral anticancer treatment. 'Beliefs about medicines' and 'illness perceptions' in particular determine adherence with this treatment. Studies aiming at impacting adherence would benefit from interventions with a solid basis in behavioral theory in order to help health care providers explore and address illness perceptions and medication beliefs. Pre-consultation screening of adherence behavior may be a helpful supportive approach to improve adherence. Blaming the victim ('patients should be educated about the importance of adherence') is better replaced by encouraging health professionals to identify and address maladaptive psychosocial determinants of adherence.

Real-life adherence in capecitabine therapy using two analysis methods and persistence after 6 months of treatment

Medication adherence in the field of Oncology is crucial in therapy management and can influence the probability of achieving and maintaining efficacy over time. We conducted a cross-sectional study to evaluate adherence and persistence to oral therapy with Capecitabine, using two different calculation methods: therapy diary and indirect prescription refilling patterns. The main objective of the study was to compare the two methods of analysis and to propose a reliable adherence datum, yielded by the application of two complementary methodologies. We consequently set out to verify if data collected from therapy diaries can be superimposed to those gathered from prescription refilling patterns. Furthermore, we included data on patient-perceived quality in relation to Capecitabine therapy, as well as adverse reactions and their duration. Of 594 patients who used the study drug as of January 1, 2012, 45 completed their therapy diary. Adherence to treatment was 0.93 ± 0.10 and 0.84 ± 0.15, calculated using therapy diaries and pharmacy refill data, respectively. In terms of persistence, 53% of patients continued with treatment after six months of therapy. On a 1 to 5 scale, perceived quality was 3.31. In conclusion, when it comes to calculating adherence, it is important to preserve the objectivity of the method, which must be unencumbered by any conditioning. Regardless of the method, also considering what has already been discussed in the available literature, adherence in patients under treatment with Capecitabine, unlike persistence, is good.