Patient-Oncologist Communication Regarding Oral Chemotherapy During Routine Office Visits

Abstract

PURPOSE Although studies in other clinical areas have shown that patient-clinician communication can positively influence adherence to medications, little is known about how oncologists address medication counseling during routine office visits. We describe patient-oncologist office-based discussions of oral chemotherapy treatment. METHODS Transcripts of 24 patient-oncologist office visits were obtained from a national database. Patients were aged >= 19 years and prescribed capecitabine for colorectal cancer. We developed a structured coding worksheet using medication-counseling concepts previously identified as important to medication adherence and a grounded approach. Two coders reviewed transcripts for oncologists' provision of medication information, assessment of patients' adherence to medication, and the provision of self-management support for management of adverse effects. We assessed interrater reliability with Cohen kappa statistics. We describe the counseling concepts present within patient-oncologist conversations and present illustrative quotes to describe how they were discussed. RESULTS Oncologists generally provided patients who had yet to initiate therapy comprehensive medication information; those in the midst of treatment received less information. Oncologists discussed patients' continued use of the medication (or discontinuation) among all patients who had initiated therapy (N = 18). How the patient was taking the medication (ie, therapy implementation) was less commonly discussed. Medication adverse effects were also discussed in all encounters. Self-management strategies were commonly provided, albeit mostly in response to a presenting symptom and not preemptively. Patients' use of concurrent medications, financial access to therapy, and assessments of logistical arrangements were discussed more sporadically. CONCLUSION Using audio recordings from a national sample of patient-oncologist office visits, we identified several potentially important opportunities to enhance medication counseling among patients prescribed capecitabine for the treatment of colorectal cancer. (C) 2020 by American Society of Clinical Oncology