Investigating factors associated with adherence behaviour in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia: an observational patient-centered outcome study

Br J Cancer. 2012 Sep 4;107(6):904-9. doi: 10.1038/bjc.2012.348. Epub 2012 Aug 7.

Abstract

Background: Optimal adherence to imatinib therapy is of paramount importance to maximise treatment effectiveness in patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). The main objective of this study was to investigate patient-reported personal factors associated with adherence behaviour.

Methods: Analysis was conducted on 413 CML patients receiving long-term therapy with imatinib. Adherence behaviour was measured with the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale and personal factors investigated included: quality of life, perceived social support, fatigue, symptom burden, psychological wellbeing and desire for additional information. Key socio-demographic and treatment-related factors were also taken into account. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to investigate factors associated with optimal adherence to therapy.

Results: In all, 53% of patients reported an optimal adherence behaviour. The final multivariate model retained the following variables as independent predictors of optimal adherence to therapy: desire for more information (ref. no), odds ratio (OR)=0.43 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.29-0.66; P<0.001), social support (higher score representing greater support), OR=1.29 (95% CI, 1.11-1.49; P<0.001) and concomitant drug burden (ref. no), OR=1.82 (95% CI, 1.18-2.80; P=0.006).

Conclusion: This study suggests that a higher level of social support, satisfaction with information received and concomitant drug burden are the main factors associated with greater adherence to long-term imatinib therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects
  • Benzamides
  • Fatigue* / etiology
  • Fatigue* / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Imatinib Mesylate
  • Information Seeking Behavior*
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / drug therapy*
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Medication Adherence* / psychology
  • Medication Adherence* / statistics & numerical data
  • Middle Aged
  • Odds Ratio
  • Piperazines / administration & dosage*
  • Piperazines / adverse effects
  • Pyrimidines / administration & dosage*
  • Pyrimidines / adverse effects
  • Quality of Life*
  • Risk Factors
  • Social Support*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Benzamides
  • Piperazines
  • Pyrimidines
  • Imatinib Mesylate