Department of Pharmacy, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
Department of Internal Medicine III (Hematology, Oncology, Pneumology), University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
J Oncol Pharm Pract. 2021 Jul;27(5):1147-1158. doi: 10.1177/1078155220946381. Epub 2020 Aug 3.
Cancer patients tend to prefer oral instead of parenteral chemotherapy. To date, there is little evidence on the medication adherence in cancer patients. We investigated medication adherence to tyrosine kinase inhibitors in patients suffering from non-small cell lung cancer.
Tyrosine kinase inhibitor adherence was measured electronically by MEMS® (medication event monitoring system) over at least six months. Adherence rates were calculated in terms of , , , and . Patients were dichotomized as adherent when Dosing Compliance and Timing Compliance were ≥80%, Taking Compliance ranged between 90 and 110%, and <1 Drug Holiday was registered. Quality of life was assessed by two questionnaires (EORTC QLQ-C30 version 3.0, EORTC QLQ-LC13) at three time points. Adverse drug events were reported via patient diaries.
Out of 32 patients enrolled, data from 23 patients were evaluable. Median Dosing Compliance, Taking Compliance, and Timing Compliance adherence rates of tyrosine kinase inhibitor intake amounted to 100%, 98%, and 99%, respectively; Drug Holidays were observed in three patients. Four patients were dichotomized as non-adherent. Three of them had a twice-daily tyrosine kinase inhibitor regimen. Median quality of life scores amounted to 67 (max. 100) and remained unchanged over the study period. Fatigue and rash were the most frequently reported adverse drug events.
Medication adherence of non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors was extraordinarily high and is likely to support the effectiveness of tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment and a good quality of life over a long period of time. Adherence facilitating information and education is especially relevant for patients taking tyrosine kinase inhibitors in a twice-daily regimen.
癌症患者往往更喜欢口服化疗而非静脉化疗。迄今为止，关于癌症患者用药依从性的证据很少。我们调查了非小细胞肺癌患者使用酪氨酸激酶抑制剂的用药依从性。
通过 MEMS®（药物事件监测系统）至少六个月的电子监测来测量酪氨酸激酶抑制剂的依从性。以 、 、 、 来计算依从率。当剂量依从性和时间依从性≥80%、服用依从性在 90%至 110%之间、且未发生<1 个药物假期时，患者被分为依从性良好。通过两个问卷（EORTC QLQ-C30 版本 3.0、EORTC QLQ-LC13）在三个时间点评估生活质量。通过患者日记报告不良药物事件。
在纳入的 32 名患者中，有 23 名患者的数据可评估。酪氨酸激酶抑制剂摄入的中位剂量依从率、服用依从率和时间依从率分别达到 100%、98%和 99%；有 3 名患者发生药物假期。4 名患者被分为不依从。其中 3 名患者使用每日两次的酪氨酸激酶抑制剂方案。中位生活质量评分达到 67（最高分 100），且在研究期间保持不变。疲劳和皮疹是最常报告的不良药物事件。
接受酪氨酸激酶抑制剂治疗的非小细胞肺癌患者的用药依从性非常高，这可能支持酪氨酸激酶抑制剂治疗的有效性和长时间的良好生活质量。对于每日两次服用酪氨酸激酶抑制剂的患者，提供用药依从性促进信息和教育尤为重要。
