The Influence of Pharmaceutical Care in Patients with Breast Cancer Receiving Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy

Abstract

Objectives: Our objective was to explore the effect of a pharmaceutical care program on adherence to adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) in breast cancer patients. Methods: Female breast cancer patients taking AET (N=429) were enrolled in the study; the pharmaceutical care program was implemented and the effect of this intervention was evaluated. The primary outcomes were scores on an 8-item medication adherence scale Chinese version (MMAS), beliefs about medicines questionnaire specific (BMQ), 5-level EuroQol 5 dimensions questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L) and a patient satisfaction questionnaire (PSQ-18). Results: We found statistically significant difference in scores on MMAS and BMQ-concern (p < .05) before and after intervention. The MMAS score was 6.12 (±1.21), 7.15 (±0.92) and 7.18 (±0.96) at baseline, 6 months and 12 months, respectively. The BMQ-concern score was 15.64 (±2.14), 12.26 (±2.85), 11.56 (±2.27) at baseline, 6 months and 12 months separately. Conclusion: The pharmaceutical care program significantly improved medication adherence and reduced patients' medication concerns to adjuvant endocrine therapy in Chinese breast cancer patients.