Abstract P1-12-13: Factors associated with adherence to adjuvant endocrine therapy in patients with hormone receptor positive breast cancer
Authors: Kim Jongjin , Han Wonshik , Moon Hyeong-Gon , Kim Min Kyoon , Lee Eunshin , Yoo Tae-Kyung , Lee Han-Byoel , Kang Young Joon , Kim Yun-Gyoung , Kim Tae Ryung , Noh Dong Young 
Published: May 2015

Background/Purpose

Adjuvant endocrine therapy in patients with hormone receptor positive breast cancer reduces recurrence and mortality, but many patients are non-adherent to anti-hormonal medication. In order to increase the adherence, it is important to know about factors associated with adherence. So we investigated factors associated with adherence to anti-hormonal medication using variable questionnaires.

Methods

We carried out a cross-sectional survey of a sample of women who underwent surgery due to breast cancer in the Seoul National University Hospital Breast Care Center from 2007 to 2011 and treated with anti-hormonal medication. Questionnaires were sent to 1,000 patients. The questionnaire booklet included the Medication Adherence Report Scale-5(MARS-5), Women’s Health Questionnaire(WHQ), Beliefs about Medicine Questionnaire(BMQ), Satisfaction with Information about Medicines Scale(SIMS). And to identify patient’s clinical characteristics, we reviewed electronic medical records, retrospectively.

Result

The response rate of questionnaire was 40.8%(408/1000). Of the answered patients, 263 patients were treated with tamoxifen and 145 patients were treated with aromatase inhibitors(AIs). 197 of 408 answered patients(48.3%) were classified as non-adherence. The rate of non-adherence was 132/263(50.1%) and 65/145(44.8%) in patients treated with tamoxifen and AIs. Of the all answered patients, non-adherent patients had more depressed mood (p&lt;0.001). Non-adherent patients scored lower on positive beliefs as measured on BMQ-necessity (OR = 0.65, 95% CI 0.51 to 0.82) and higher on negative beliefs as measured on BMQ-overuse (OR=1.81, 95% CI 1.29 to 2.54). Non-adherent patients also scored lower on satisfaction with information about action and usage of anti-hormonal treatment as measured on SIMS-action and usage (OR = 0.47, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.65). Of the patients treated with tamoxifen, non-adherent patients had more depressed mood (p=0.003), scored higher on BMQ-overuse (OR=1.97, 95% CI 1.22 to 3.20) and scored lower on SIMS-action and usage (OR = 0.33, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.50). Of the patients treated with AIs, non-adherent patients had more depressed mood (p=0.014), scored lower on BMQ-necessity (OR=0.52, 95% CI 0.36 to 0.75).

Conclusion

This study showed associations between depressive mood of breast cancer patients treated with anti-hormonal therapy and adherence. And beliefs and satisfaction with information about medication also associated with adherence. To improve adherence, we should evaluate and correct patient’s mood. And we should provide proper information about medications.

Citation Format: Jongjin Kim, Wonshik Han, Hyeong-Gon Moon, Min Kyoon Kim, Eunshin Lee, Tae-Kyung Yoo, Han-Byoel Lee, Young Joon Kang, Yun-Gyoung Kim, Tae Ryung Kim, Dong Young Noh. Factors associated with adherence to adjuvant endocrine therapy in patients with hormone receptor positive breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2014 Dec 9-13; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(9 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-12-13.