A Trial to Assess the Influence of a Pictorial Medication Calendar on Medication Taking Behaviour

London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute OR Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph's70 enrolled

Overview

Determine if an oncology pictorial medication calendar will improve patient adherence to oncology supportive care medication regimens for adult patients receiving adjuvant or neo-adjuvant chemotherapy treatment for cancer.

Primary Objective: In order to evaluate the impact of such an approach on adherence, a prospective, open-label, randomized controlled pilot trial (RCT) was carried out to determine if a picture-based medication calendar would improve patient adherence to antiemetic medication regimens for adult patients receiving chemotherapy treatment for solid organ tumor origins. The secondary objectives were: 1) to assess medication use and self-efficacy parameters, 2) to determine patient comfort with antiemetic regimen prescribed along with chemotherapy and 3) to determine patient satisfaction with the calendar study tool.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Cancer Chemotherapy Medication Adherence

Interventions

Picture Medication CalendarDEVICE

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion criteria: * Outpatients 18 years or older receiving chemotherapy treatment for neoadjuvant or adjuvant solid organ cancers, * Able to provide consent for themselves, * Calendar was only available in the English language, thus fluency in English was required. Exclusion criteria: * Participants who did not attain a minimum of grade 8 education, * Significant visual impairment that precluded the ability to read the picture-based medication calendar, * Difficulty swallowing with requirement for liquid formulations of medications, * If planned to receive multiple cycles of chemotherapy at satellite oncology location instead of main study site, * If unable to repeat the instructions back to research personnel or a care provider had to speak on the participant's behalf, the participant was withdrawn from the study.

Locations (1)

London Health Sciences Centre

London, Ontario, Canada

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Medication Adherence to Prescribed Antiemetics

Adherence is quantified as the number of doses taken of a prescribed agent divided by the number of doses prescribed, expressed as a percentage. Pill counts were utilized to calculate the number of missed doses or pills taken as a percentage of the total number prescribed and dispensed.

Time frame: 1 year

Secondary Outcomes

Patient Understanding and Satisfaction Survey

The participant survey conducted at end of study was investigator-created and asked questions regarding demographics and medication taking behaviors. Questions specifically related to the calendar for those in the intervention arm were also asked. Questions regarding satisfaction with the calendar as well as complexity of medication regimen for oncologic treatment were assessed using a 5-point Likert scale.

Time frame: 1 year

Medication Use and Self-Efficacy (MUSE) Scale

19 The tool measures an individual's perceived ability to understand information about prescribed medicines, and to follow instructions for use.

Time frame: 1 year

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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