PI: Sarah Belcher, PHD, RN, OCN
Funding Source: NCI
August 2024 - July 2029
Oral anticancer medications (OAMs) are increasingly becoming the standard treatment for blood cancers such as multiple myeloma, chronic myeloid leukemia, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. These life-extending therapies require long-term use, but many patients face challenges with adherence—delaying treatment start, not taking medications as prescribed, or stopping early—which can seriously impact cancer outcomes. Despite the critical role of adherence, little is known about why some patients struggle, who is most at risk, and how adherence patterns relate to health outcomes, especially in socioeconomically diverse populations.
This study uses a year-long, mixed-methods approach with over 300 patients to closely track medication adherence from initiation through ongoing use. It explores multi-level factors such as systemic barriers, symptom concerns, and social determinants that influence adherence. Additionally, it examines the relationship between adherence patterns and important outcomes including quality of life, treatment response, and survival. The research team integrates quantitative data with patient interviews to gain a comprehensive understanding of the patient experience.
By characterizing adherence initiation and persistence in hematologic malignancies, this pharmacoepidemiology research addresses a critical knowledge gap. Its findings will inform targeted, culturally sensitive interventions to support patients at risk of nonadherence, promote equitable health outcomes, and guide future research on adherence across cancer types.