Oral Oncolytic Agents--A Need for Research to Enhance Patient Centeredness?

T he Institute of Medicare has identified patient centeredness as one of the elements of quality healthcare delivery. The American Society of Clinical Oncology, through the Value in Cancer Care task force, indicates that patient centeredness is important and that the Bindividual needs of the patient are paramount. [ I offer here perspectives on patient-centered care related to oral oncolyticsVthe new approach to cancer therapy. Areas for needed research in consideration of the patient-centered perspectives are also offered. Oral agents appear to be beneficial and convenient for patients. It would seem that the oral agents would prevent numerous trips to the cancer centers, prevent the cumbersome and painful aspects of intravenous chemotherapy, and be more favorable for patients. Is that so? We have limited documented evidence of what patients and families are experiencing and thus have limited information to guide our practice. Current studies on oral oncolytics appear to be limited to issues around adherence with such agents. More research is needed on met and unmet patient needs with this therapeutic approach. The change in paradigm so that patients are responsible for obtaining and administering medication and monitoring for toxic effects, and long-term maintenance treatment brings the need for new understanding, new standards, and new guidelines for nursing practice. There is less direct supervision, guidance, and monitoring by the healthcare system to support patients and their family members. We need to develop systems of support for patients. The prescription for the oral oncolytics often goes to a specialty pharmacy that prepares and mails or delivers the medication directly to the patient. Before the medications are mailed, the approval of the insurance company is needed for drugs that range from $60 000 to $100 000 per year; this may take several weeks of negotiation. Thus, it may take 3 to 4 weeks from the time the prescription is written until the patient receives the drugs. Patients experience many frustrations interacting with insurance companies, specialty pharmacies, and drug assistance programs. Patients are seldom prepared for the co-pay of $2000 to $3000 every month. In addition, patients who are on oral agents are often at the age when they have multiple other chronic diseases being treated with medications. This can cause confusion with complex regimens and polypharmacy. Patients may be taking medication 4 or more times per day and 6 to 8 different medications per day. Warfarin, St John_s Wort, grapefruit, and high-fat diets have been implicated as having drug interactions with oral agents. Research is needed on what strategies work best to assist patients with this complex situation. Without all of the systems in place that we have for intravenous chemotherapy and radiation, patients and their families on oral agents do not have the educational materials and guidelines in place to manage the toxic effects so patients may develop serious adverse effects. If instructions had been given, it may have been 15 to 45 days previously, and thus patient confusion, uncertainty, and forgetfulness occur. With the toxicities, there are drug stoppage and dose reductions that cause further challenges for patients, which add to confusion. The new direction in cancer careVuse of oral oncolyticsVoffers immediate opportunities for nursing research that go beyond adherence studies to developing the support needed by patients. For patients with solid tumors, many of the protocols are for patients with advanced disease who had lack of response to 2 to 3 other forms of therapy; thus, the end of treatment options looms before them. The administration of medications is compounded by the different patterns of toxicities, large co-pays, monitoring for adverse effects, and coordination of care. We need to examine our tested interventions for patients who receive traditional chemotherapy and radiation to see if some of the same cognitive behavioral or psychoeducational strategies will work for symptom management for patients on oral oncolytics. What problem-solving and decision-making strategies would be assistive to these patients given the complex regimens? How do we help them with the judgments and decision making that is needed for obtaining drugs and obtaining insurance approval?