title: Interventions to promote adherence with oral agents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The advent of oral therapies has dramatically changed the landscape of cancer therapy. Yet the degree to which patients actually take the prescribed agents as ordered remains unknown. This article outlines the challenges that oral chemotherapy agents present to both patients and providers and suggests interventions for promoting adherence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Published articles and web resources.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Barriers and facilitators to medication adherence are reviewed and interventions to promote medication adherence are presented. Strategies that include patient education and symptom management can promote adherence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maximizing adherence to oral chemotherapy agents can have many positive outcomes, but most important is improvement in overall survival and life expectancy. Other outcomes include improved safety and quality of life. Patients risk improper dosing and an increase in disease recurrence when there is nonadherence with medications. Correct dosing, education, and symptom management are all critical to ensuring adherence. Nursing interventions that incorporate education, early symptom identification, and reminder prompts can improve outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Duke University School of Nursing, DUMC 3322, Durham, NC 27710, USA. susan.schneider@duke.edu
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hess
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gosselin
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents