Impact of a Multidisciplinary Consultation Program on Drug Adherence in First Oral Anticancer Treatment

Oncology management has changed dramatically over the last decade with the approval and rapid adoption of newly targeted oral oncology medications. The movement to oral oncology medications has altered the balance of risks and adverse effects (AEs) in the treatment of cancer care. These treatments are associated with a different constellation of AEs and drug interactions. Patients receiving treatment with oral anticancer treatment (OAT) encounter several barriers to adherence, which may include limited access to specialty medications, severe adverse effects, complex medication regimens, and special handling precautions. Medication nonadherence not only reduces the efficacy of drug therapy but also has the potential to increase healthcare expenditures due to disease-related hospitalizations. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the drug adherence in cancer patients, using the medication possession ratio (MPR), before and after the implementation of a multidisciplinary consultation program (MCP), on initiation of OAT.