Abstract
Introduction: Oral cancer therapeutics have placed administration responsibility with the patient. Suboptimal medication adherence occurs in ~50% of patients across diseases, including cancer.1 An effective intervention is required to ensure survival benefits of therapeutics are realised.2
Objectives: To detail development of an intervention to improve medication adherence and reduce errors for oral cancer therapeutics.
Methods: The initial intervention, REMIND, was developed utilising co-design with stakeholders: patients, haematologists, nurses and pharmacists. REMIND was pilot-tested with 10 patients.3 Results informed second iteration development: SAMSON.
Results: Results and pharmacist consultation identified further development should: enable use across chronic and for comorbid illnesses; improve medication interaction safety; maximise translation, distribution and consistency through online resources; improve doctor-patient adherence and side-effect reporting. Accordingly, the platform was expanded for multiple medications. Initial pharmacy consultation, including medication reconciliation and self-administration education, and final nurse consultation focused on relapse-prevention, have been added. Online nurse and pharmacist training and manuals were developed, and patient/clinician reporting facilities added (figure 1). SAMSON is a 24-week comprehensive intervention that integrates pharmacy (week 1) and nurse tele-consultations (weeks 2, 3, 6, 10, 12), with ongoing APP support, through medication reminders, reinforcement, and side-effect advice. Weekly adherence and symptom reports provide patient feedback, guide nurse consultations and clinician review.
Conclusions: SAMSON targets cognitive, behavioural and affective aspects, creating long-term habits and providing ongoing support. Testing will assess feasibility, acceptability and efficacy in people prescribed oral cancer medication. SAMSON is expected to improve patient quality of life, reduce medication errors and related hospital admissions, optimising healthcare expenditure.
Objectives: To detail development of an intervention to improve medication adherence and reduce errors for oral cancer therapeutics.
Methods: The initial intervention, REMIND, was developed utilising co-design with stakeholders: patients, haematologists, nurses and pharmacists. REMIND was pilot-tested with 10 patients.3 Results informed second iteration development: SAMSON.
Results: Results and pharmacist consultation identified further development should: enable use across chronic and for comorbid illnesses; improve medication interaction safety; maximise translation, distribution and consistency through online resources; improve doctor-patient adherence and side-effect reporting. Accordingly, the platform was expanded for multiple medications. Initial pharmacy consultation, including medication reconciliation and self-administration education, and final nurse consultation focused on relapse-prevention, have been added. Online nurse and pharmacist training and manuals were developed, and patient/clinician reporting facilities added (figure 1). SAMSON is a 24-week comprehensive intervention that integrates pharmacy (week 1) and nurse tele-consultations (weeks 2, 3, 6, 10, 12), with ongoing APP support, through medication reminders, reinforcement, and side-effect advice. Weekly adherence and symptom reports provide patient feedback, guide nurse consultations and clinician review.
Conclusions: SAMSON targets cognitive, behavioural and affective aspects, creating long-term habits and providing ongoing support. Testing will assess feasibility, acceptability and efficacy in people prescribed oral cancer medication. SAMSON is expected to improve patient quality of life, reduce medication errors and related hospital admissions, optimising healthcare expenditure.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | 2 |
| Publication status | Published - 2018 |
Keywords
- cancer care
- medication adherence
- behaviour change
- oncology
- medication errors
- side-effects
- self-care
