A Randomized, Controlled Trial to Assess Multi-Level Interventions to Improve Adherence to Oral Medications in Cancer Patients in a Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Community
Thomas Jefferson University
Summary
Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia serves a diverse group of the patient population. The majority of patients have a diverse cultural background, low literacy, and poor social-economic status. Medication adherence for chronic medical problems is in a range of 40-70%. Medication adherence among patients on oral anti-cancer therapy is not studied in detail. The main objective is to study medication adherence to oral anticancer agents in patients with low literacy and poor socio-economic status.
Description
Until recently, contemporary approaches to cancer care have failed to consistently tailor communication approaches to patients with low health literacy. They have produced mixed results in regard to implementation of successful interventions in addressing the needs of this populations. Low health literacy is especially common in medically underserved communities, including in North Philadelphia. Cancer treatment, including cancer chemotherapy, is complex, and it requires substantial skills, in order for patients to adhere to care and achieve the goals of therapy. Patients with low health liter…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * All patients on oral chemotherapeutic agents * Clinical diagnosis of stage IV breast cancer * Clinical diagnosis of stage III and IV colorectal cancer (not receiving concurrent radiation therapy) * Clinical diagnosis of stage IV non-small cell lung cancer * Clinical diagnosis of stage IV renal cell carcinoma * Clinical diagnosis of stage IV ovarian carcinoma * Clinical diagnosis of multiple myeloma * Clinical diagnosis of chronic myelogenous leukemia on TKI * Clinical diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome on Lenalidomide * Adjuvant treatment for Gastro Intestinal Stromal…
Interventions
- BehavioralIntervention
All participants in this group will receive the standard of care intervention provided by the RN. This includes:Education in the clinic setting,Printed information about the chemotherapy drug and chemotherapy side effects. The RN will be blinded to the arm of study to which each patient is allocated.
Location
- Albert Einstein Healthcare NetworkPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania