Factors affecting Adherence to Adjuvant Hormonal Therapy among Women with Breast Cancer

Refaat Elmaadawy, Amany; Salah Hassan, Manal; Mohamed Mohamed, Yosreah; Eldin Moussa Sherif, Diaa

doi:10.21608/ejhc.2022.266528

Factors affecting Adherence to Adjuvant Hormonal Therapy among Women with Breast Cancer

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Demonstrator in Medical Surgical Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing Ain Shams University

² Professor of Medical Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Ain Shams University

³ Assistant Professor of Medical Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Ain Shams University.

⁴ Lecturer at oncology and nuclear medicine, Faculty of medicine Ain shams university

10.21608/ejhc.2022.266528

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. Also, is the
leading cause of death in women, Adjuvant endocrine therapy is a treatment that significantly
reduces recurrence and mortality in women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. Aim of
the study: Assess factors affecting adherence to adjuvant hormonal therapy among women with
breast cancer. Study Design: A descriptive design was used to achieve the aim of this study.
Setting: Oncology center and nuclear medicine affiliated to Ain shams university hospitals.
Subjects: A purposive sample of 60 women diagnosed with breast cancer and treated with
hormonal therapy. Data Collection: tool І) Structured Interview Questionnaire for Women with
Breast Cancer on Hormonal Therapy, which is divided into 3 parts- Part 1: Socio-demographic Data
of studied Women. Part 2: Medical Health Profile. Part 3: Knowledge Regarding to Breast Cancer
and Hormonal Therapy. Tool ІІ) the morisky medication adherence scale. Tool ІІІ) factors
affecting adherence to adjuvant hormonal therapy among women with breast cancer. Result: less
than two thirds of the studied women had unsatisfactory level of total knowledge about breast
cancer and hormonal therapy. Less than half of them had high level of adherence. Less than three
quarters of them had sever physical symptoms and fatigue, more than two thirds of them had sever
pain, half of them had sever depression, half of them had low self-efficacy, more than two thirds of
them had severe stress and less than three quarters of them had high level of social support.
Conclusion: Near two thirds of women had unsatisfactory level of total knowledge about breast
cancer and hormonal therapy. Less than half of them had high level of medication adherence. The
Study had identified several factors that are associated with non-adherence to adjuvant hormonal
therapy; these factors include side-effects of treatment especially musculoskeletal pain, fatigue,
knowledge, forgetfulness, beliefs, depressive symptoms, attitudes, and self-efficacy.
Recommendations: Educational programs should be planned to encourage women to adhere to
medication. Also, Women need a simplified and comprehensive Arabic booklet including
information about the medication. In addition, Replication of the current study on a larger
probability sample is recommended to achieve generalization of the results.

Keywords