Objective:

The study aimed to assess problems experienced by patients taking oral chemotherapy and their medication adherence.

Material and Method:

The study used a comparative and descriptive research model and involved 122 patients who were treated through oral chemotherapy in the rheumatology and oncology polyclinics of hospitals at Uludağ University and Eskişehir Osmangazi University and agreed to participate in the study. The data of the study were collected using a descriptive characteristics questionnaire form and an oral chemotherapy adherence scale.

Results:

The study sample comprised 47.3% rheumatology patients and 52.7% oncology patients. Of the rheumatology patients, 69.8% received treatment because of rheumatoid arthritis. Of the oncology patients, 27.1% received treatment because of colorectal cancer and 54.2% because of breast cancer. The mean of oral medication taken by rheumatology patients was 4.41±4.40 number/day while that taken by oncology patients was 4.51±2.96 number/day. As for oral chemotherapeutics, all patients in the rheumatology group used methotrexate; while of the oncology group, 32.9% used xeloda, 3.4% capecitabine; 24.1% femara; and 22.4% tamoxifen and other oral cytotoxic drugs at lower levels. A total of 35.7% of the rheumatology group and 64.3% of the oncology group experienced problems in the prescription of oral chemotherapeutics. A total of 35.3% of rheumatology patients and 64.7% of oncology patients were not able to establish adequate and effective communication with health professionals. Also, 18.9% of rheumatology patients and 13.8% of oncology patients reported to experience a lack of motivation. A total of, 18.9% of rheumatology patients and 16.9% of oncology patients stated that the medication treatment affected their daily lives in a negative way. No difference was observed between the distribution of oral chemotherapy medication adherence scores of both groups, which were found to be poor (rheumatology=76; oncology=79), (p=0.157).

Conclusion and Recommendations:

The mean number of medications taken orally by rheumatology and oncology patients on a daily basis was high. Among these medications, the frequency of use and diversity of oral chemotherapeutics in oncology patients was higher than those in rheumatology patients. Factors such as lack of motivation and decrease in self-esteem had negative impact on medication adherences of patients given oral chemotherapeutic. Planning the education of nurses about medications according to the needs of patients, increasing patients’ motivations for the process of treatment, and supporting patients for this process in nursing care of oncology and rheumatology patients will enhance the medication adherence of patients.

Keywords: Oral chemotherapy drugs, problems, adherence, nursing care