Cited by 676Medication Adherence and ComplianceBreast Cancer Treatment StudiesCancer survivorship and care

Nonadherence to adjuvant tamoxifen therapy in women with primary breast cancer

Partridge, Ann H., Wang, Philip S., Winer, Eric P., Avorn, Jerry·2003·Journal of Clinical Oncology

Abstract

Purpose: Although clinical trials have clearly demonstrated the benefits of tamoxifen in women with primary breast cancer, little is known about how this drug is actually used in the general population. We sought to estimate adherence and predictors of nonadherence in women starting tamoxifen as adjuvant breast cancer therapy. Patients and Methods: Subjects were age 18 years or older initiating tamoxifen for primary breast cancer and enrolled in New Jersey’s Medicaid or Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled programs during the study period, from 1990 to 1996 (N = 2,378). Main outcome measures were number of days covered by filled prescriptions for tamoxifen in the first year of therapy with the 4 years after tamoxifen initiation for a subset; predictors of good versus poor adherence. Results: Twenty-three percent of patients missed taking tamoxifen on more than one fifth of days studied, although on average, patients filled prescriptions for tamoxifen for 87% of their first year of treatment. The youngest, oldest, nonwhite, and mastectomy patients had significantly lower rates of adherence; patients who had seen an oncologist before taking tamoxifen had significantly higher rates of adherence. Overall adherence decreased to 50% by year 4 of therapy. Conclusion: The mean level of adherence to tamoxifen is high compared with other chronic medications. However, nearly one fourth of patients may be at risk for inadequate clinical response because of poor adherence. Because of the efficacy of tamoxifen therapy in preventing recurrence and death in women with early-stage breast cancer, further efforts are necessary to identify and prevent suboptimal adherence.

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Crossref · 10.1200/jco.2003.07.071

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Authors
Partridge, A. H., Wang, P. S., Winer, E. P., & Avorn, J.
Affiliations
Brigham and Women's Hospital (US)
Venue
Journal of Clinical Oncology
Published
2003-02-15
Volume
21
Issue
4
Pages
602-606
ISSN
  • 0732-183X (ISSN-L)
  • 1527-7755
OpenAlex
W1996337195
Cited by
676
References
47
Citations by year
2026: 14 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 35 · 2021: 33 · 2020: 28 · 2019: 23 · 2018: 30 · 2017: 44 · 2016: 45 · 2015: 46 · 2014: 36 · 2013: 57 · 2012: 56
FWCI
8.35
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Clinical Oncology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (1r03ag018395-01)
  • National Institute on Aging (R03-AG18395)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Family Practice › Medication Adherence and Compliance
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cancer Research › Breast Cancer Treatment Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
Keywords
tamoxifen, medication adherence, non-compliance, primary breast cancer, predictors of adherence, prescription filling, Medicaid, older women, mastectomy, early breast cancer, recurrence prevention
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Breast Neoplasms, Female, Humans, Mastectomy, Medicaid, Middle Aged, New Jersey, Tamoxifen, United States, Treatment Refusal, Chemotherapy, Adjuvant, Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal

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