TY - JOUR
T1 - Patient experiences and views on pharmaceutical care during adjuvant endocrine therapy for breast cancer
T2 - A qualitative study
AU - en-nasery - de Heer, Selma
AU - Tromp, Vashti N. M. F.
AU - Westerman, Marjan J.
AU - Konings, Inge
AU - Beckeringh, Jan Jacob
AU - Boons, Christel L. M.
AU - Timmers, Lonneke
AU - Hugtenburg, Jacqueline G.
N1 - Funding Information: This work was supported by the Royal Dutch Pharmacists Association (Koninklijke Nederlandse Maatschappij ter bevordering der Pharmacie [KNMP]). Funding information Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Authors. European Journal of Cancer Care published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
PY - 2022/11
Y1 - 2022/11
N2 - Objective: The use of adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) after primary treatment of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer reduces the risk of recurrence and mortality. However, non-adherence is still common. Limited consideration has been given to how users deal with AET and the role of pharmaceutical care. Therefore, this study aims to obtain insight into the needs and wishes of women using AET regarding pharmaceutical care and eHealth. Methods: This is a qualitative explorative study comprising semi-structured interviews (n = 16) and a focus group (n = 5) among women who use or used AET after primary early-stage breast cancer (EBC) treatment using a thematic analysis approach. Results: Three themes emerged from the interviews and focus group: (1) experiences with AET use, (2) experiences with provided information and (3) needs and wishes regarding pharmaceutical care. Most women were highly motivated to use AET and indicated to have received useful information on AET. However, many expressed a strong need for more elaborate tailored and timely provided information on AET. They acknowledged the accessibility of pharmacists but reported that currently, pharmacists are hardly involved in AET care. Several women considered eHealth useful to obtain counselling and reliable information. Conclusion: Women need more comprehensive information and follow-up in primary setting after initial cancer treatments. A more elaborate role for the pharmacy and eHealth/mHealth, especially with regard to counselling on side effects and side effect management, could potentially improve pharmaceutical care.
AB - Objective: The use of adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) after primary treatment of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer reduces the risk of recurrence and mortality. However, non-adherence is still common. Limited consideration has been given to how users deal with AET and the role of pharmaceutical care. Therefore, this study aims to obtain insight into the needs and wishes of women using AET regarding pharmaceutical care and eHealth. Methods: This is a qualitative explorative study comprising semi-structured interviews (n = 16) and a focus group (n = 5) among women who use or used AET after primary early-stage breast cancer (EBC) treatment using a thematic analysis approach. Results: Three themes emerged from the interviews and focus group: (1) experiences with AET use, (2) experiences with provided information and (3) needs and wishes regarding pharmaceutical care. Most women were highly motivated to use AET and indicated to have received useful information on AET. However, many expressed a strong need for more elaborate tailored and timely provided information on AET. They acknowledged the accessibility of pharmacists but reported that currently, pharmacists are hardly involved in AET care. Several women considered eHealth useful to obtain counselling and reliable information. Conclusion: Women need more comprehensive information and follow-up in primary setting after initial cancer treatments. A more elaborate role for the pharmacy and eHealth/mHealth, especially with regard to counselling on side effects and side effect management, could potentially improve pharmaceutical care.
KW - adjuvant endocrine therapy
KW - breast cancer
KW - eHealth
KW - medication adherence
KW - patient views
KW - pharmaceutical care
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85141436366&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1111/ecc.13749
DO - https://doi.org/10.1111/ecc.13749
M3 - Article
C2 - 36300863
SN - 0961-5423
VL - 31
JO - European journal of cancer care
JF - European journal of cancer care
IS - 6
M1 - e13749
ER -