Structured Patient Education and Medication Adherence in Oncology Patients Prescribed Oral Chemotherapy

Friday, 20 July 2018

Virginia Newman, MSN, RN, AOCNS
Doctoral Studies DNP Adult Gerontology, Molloy College, Rockville Centre Long Island, NY, USA

Abstract

The purpose of this research project is to design and implement a structured patient education session utilizing The Medication Oral Agent Teaching Tool (MOATT) to improve medication adherence in oncology patient’s prescribed oral chemotherapy in the outpatient setting. Medication adherence is a significant complex problem in healthcare today; currently, less than 50% of patients adhere to their prescribed medications and healthcare provider recommendation’s causing difficulties in the efficacy of treatment, management of disease, and health outcomes. Non-adherence to medication is thought to be due to many factors such as cost, access, knowledge, and complicated dosing schedules. Today approximately 25% of all new chemotherapy medications in development are oral medications mostly prescribed in the outpatient setting. These oncology patients are more at risk for non-adherence behaviors as patients treated in the outpatient setting experience less healthcare support and increased patient autonomy. The Medication Oral Agent Teaching Tool (MOATT) was developed by the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer to improve medication adherence in patients prescribed oral chemotherapy, is a standardized assessment educational tool found to be useful in identifying patients who are at risk for non-adherence behaviors. Health Belief Model will guide the project as it proposes that by assessing patients’ beliefs, knowledge, and perceptions Advance Practice Nurses can identify risks and barriers to medication adherence as well as promote and support the use of self-management skills and strategies needed to improve medication adherence. In this study the participants will receive four structured education sessions using the MOATT. The participants will complete the Adherence Starts with Knowledge -12 survey (ASK-12), demographic survey, along with a personal diary of adherence. The Advance Practice Nurse (APN) can identify risks and barriers to medication adherence as well as promote and support the use of self-management skills and strategies needed to improve medication adherence.The setting of the project will take place at an outpatient adult oncology private physician office in Brooklyn, New York. The setting provides treatment and follow-up of adult oncology patients who are currently planning treatment regimens with oral chemotherapy.