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Recruiting NCT03245411

Assessment of Multi-Level Interventions to Improve Adherence to Oral Medications in Cancer Patients

No phase Interventional Cancer

For patients and families

In plain language

An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.

What is being studied
The protocol lists: Intervention.
Who it may be relevant to
Registry conditions: Cancer. Basic parameters: from 18 years · All.
What needs checking
Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
Where it takes place
United States
Next step
Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
Official title

A Randomized, Controlled Trial to Assess Multi-Level Interventions to Improve Adherence to Oral Medications in Cancer Patients in a Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Community

Overview

Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia serves a diverse group of the patient population. The majority of patients have a diverse cultural background, low literacy, and poor social-economic status. Medication adherence for chronic medical problems is in a range of 40-70%. Medication adherence among patients on oral anti-cancer therapy is not studied in detail. The main objective is to study medication adherence to oral anticancer agents in patients with low literacy and poor socio-economic status.

Detailed description

Until recently, contemporary approaches to cancer care have failed to consistently tailor communication approaches to patients with low health literacy. They have produced mixed results in regard to implementation of successful interventions in addressing the needs of this populations. Low health literacy is especially common in medically underserved communities, including in North Philadelphia. Cancer treatment, including cancer chemotherapy, is complex, and it requires substantial skills, in order for patients to adhere to care and achieve the goals of therapy. Patients with low health literacy find it especially challenging to navigate cancer treatment. Results of previous research showed that intervention strategies that address the needs for information and material support of African American older adults, can help improve adherence to cancer screening in this population.

The purpose is to develop and evaluate model interventions to improve healthcare outcomes for socially disadvantaged populations. The objective in this proposal is to conduct a randomized controlled trial that evaluates the effects of an intervention that provides enhanced education and material support, on adherence to care, among the cancer patients of the Medical Oncology Clinic of the Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia.

The central hypothesis is that compared to the standard educational intervention delivered by a registered nurse, the addition of an enhanced intervention (enhanced education, problem-solving skills and facilitative support) will result in greater adherence care, especially among patients with low health literacy.

Interventions

  • Behavioral Intervention
    All participants in this group will receive the standard of care intervention provided by the RN. This includes:Education in the clinic setting,Printed information about the chemotherapy drug and chemotherapy side effects. The RN will be blinded to the arm of study to which each patient is allocated.

Primary outcome measures

  • Adherence to oral chemotherapy [Time frame: 6 months]
Secondary outcome measures (3)
  • Frequency of medication refills [Time frame: 6 months]
  • Adherence to scheduled follow-up medical care visits [Time frame: 6 months]
  • Healthcare utilization [Time frame: 6 months]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

  • All patients on oral chemotherapeutic agents
  • Clinical diagnosis of stage IV breast cancer
  • Clinical diagnosis of stage III and IV colorectal cancer (not receiving concurrent radiation therapy)
  • Clinical diagnosis of stage IV non-small cell lung cancer
  • Clinical diagnosis of stage IV renal cell carcinoma
  • Clinical diagnosis of stage IV ovarian carcinoma
  • Clinical diagnosis of multiple myeloma
  • Clinical diagnosis of chronic myelogenous leukemia on TKI
  • Clinical diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome on Lenalidomide
  • Adjuvant treatment for Gastro Intestinal Stromal Tumor
  • Clinical diagnosis of chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
  • Clinical diagnosis of metastatic Prostate cancer
  • Clinical diagnosis of hepatocellular Carcinoma
  • Clinical diagnosis of stage IV Melanoma
  • Clinical diagnosis of myelofibrosis/myeloproliferative neoplasms
  • Age >18 years
  • ECOG Performance Status <3

Exclusion criteria

  • ECOG Performance Status of 3 and above
  • Concurrent chemo radiation
  • Non-English speaker
  • Clinical diagnosis of dementia, or otherwise unable to give informed consent.
  • History of non-compliance (defined as the history of 2 or more missed appointments in the clinic).
  • Pregnant patients
  • Nursing Home Patients
  • Incarcerated

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: No

Study design

Allocation
Randomized
Model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Open label
Primary purpose
Other

Study locations

United States · 1 center
  • Albert Einstein Healthcare Network — Philadelphia

Identifiers

NCT: NCT03245411 · 4950 · JT 27684

Primary sources (government registries)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗