Evaluating How Changes in Appearance of Oral Cancer Medicines Affect Treatment Adherence, Continuity, and Patient Experience

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying how changes in the appearance of oral chemotherapy pills and their packaging affect treatment adherence, continuity, patient-reported health outcomes, and patient experience of care among adults with cancer. The study also aims to analyze if factors like age, health literacy, and clinical variables influence these effects differently in men and women. This mixed-methods observational study is sponsored by Universidad Miguel Hernandez de Elche and focuses on oral antineoplastic drugs ANEOs. Patients who have been on treatment with specified oral antineoplastic drugs for at least six months and experience a change in their medications appearanceeither switching from brand-name to generic or between genericswill be invited to participate. The study includes both quantitative and qualitative components, including focus groups. Data will be collected before and after the medication change to evaluate treatment continuity, adherence, patient experience, and health outcomes over a follow-up period of six months. Participants will undergo baseline assessments at their pharmacy service, including pill counts, interviews on adherence, quality of life, and healthcare experience. Follow-up evaluations will occur at three and six months to monitor changes. Researchers will analyze medication changes through hospital pharmacy records during the study period from June 2025 to June 2027. All data will be pseudonymized to protect privacy, and the study will generate evidence to help improve educational strategies and policy decisions regarding oral chemotherapy treatments.

Impact of Changing the Appearance of Oral Antineoplastics on Adherence and Continuity of Treatment, Patient-reported Health Outcomes, and Patient Experience of Care