Medication adherence to oral cancer therapy: The promising role of the pharmacist

Abstract

Medication adherence to oral cancer therapy is a critical component to achieving optimal patient outcomes. As the US population ages, growing numbers of patients will be prescribed oral cancer therapy regimens, highlighting the need for innovative and scalable solutions. Clinical pharmacists offer tremendous promise to help patients improve their adherence to oral cancer therapy. Moreover, addition of oral chemotherapy to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) medication adherence quality measures has the potential to improve care and result in better therapeutic outcomes with fewer costs for patients and payers. Future research is needed to test the use of pharmacist-managed interventions to improve adherence to oral cancer therapy.