Telehealth-based Strategies to Increase Oral Chemotherapeutic Agent Medication Adherence
United States128 participantsStarted 2015-11-15
Plain-language summary
Oral chemotherapeutic agents (OCAs) are increasingly being used as an alternative to traditional intravenous chemotherapy, and factors promoting this trend include increased survival times requiring long-term therapy, acceptability among patients, convenience, and cost savings due to reduced hospital time. Although OCAs are commonly preferred by patients, adherence to these medications vary. Suboptimal medication adherence leads to loss of treatment efficacy, increased toxicity, and increased health care costs. Thus, it is critical to develop and test interventions that effectively improve adherence to OCAs. Although the medication adherence literature has been criticized for methodological issues, some components of interventions have had promising results on adherence such as electronic monitored adherence feedback, cognitive-education, nurse-based interventions, and technology-based or telehealth strategies. The investigators propose to unify components of these effective approaches in a novel way to assess the efficacy and feasibility of two telehealth-based strategies (electronic medication-event monitoring with feedback and tailored nurse coaching which includes cognitive-education) in an effort increase OCA adherence among cancer patients who are at high-risk for non-adherence in rural eastern North Carolina.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion criteria
. New cycle or withing the first 3 cycles of OCAs
. Ambulatory
. Age 18 years or older
. Able to consent for self
. Able to read and speak English
. Has a working cellphone or landline.
Exclusion criteria
. Life expectancy \<3 months as determined by oncologist
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Medication Adherence at Baseline and 6-month Follow-up Period