OBJECTIVES :

The study was undertaken with the aim to assess the medication adherence in patients receiving chemotherapy. The objective of the study was to determine barriers of medication adherence in patients receiving chemotherapy, to determine particular cancer condition in which non-adherence is mostly seen. To determine the most common regimen with less adherence rate among patients receiving chemotherapy

METHODS :

The prospective observational study was carried out in Bharath hospital and institute of oncology for a period of 6 months. The study subjects will be monitored for medication adherence and will be followed-up at day care centre during subsequent visits to assess compliance to chemotherapy regimen. Most of the patient details were collected from patient case sheets or laboratory reports.

RESULTS

The study included 174 patients. 75.8%(n=132) were found to be adherent, 24.1%(n=42) patients found to be non- adherent to the prescribed chemotherapy. Majority of patients were diagnosed with breast cancer15.51%(n=26), followed by head and neck 14.9%(n=24) and ovarian cancer 3.21%(n=7) prescription sheet reviewed shows that 20.6%(n=35) were prescribed with paclitaxel and carboplatin regimen,19.5%(n=34) were receiving cisplatin alone. AC regimen 21.4%(n=37) has more non adherence levels . Among the total number of non-adherence 50%(n=87) were found to be patient related factors. The economic factors account 23.8%(n=39) of the total non-adherent cases followed by social factors 9.5%(n=16) drug related 14.2%(n=14) and 2.3% (n=4) were found to be disease related factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Patient related factors have a greater impact on adherence levels among the patient receiving chemotherapy. The study concluded that there is a positive impact of pharmacist initiated patient counselling on adherence of medication therapy in patient receiving chemotherapy.