title: Patient-oncologist alliance, psychosocial well-being, and treatment adherence among young adults with advanced cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patients who develop a strong alliance with their health care providers have been shown to have higher levels of psychosocial well-being and rates of treatment adherence. Young adults with cancer have lower levels of psychosocial well-being and treatment adherence relative to patients with cancer in other age groups. This study sought to evaluate the relationships between the patient-oncologist alliance, psychosocial well-being, and treatment adherence in young adults with advanced cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-five young adults (age 20 to 40 years) with advanced cancer were administered measures of alliance, psychosocial well-being, willingness to adhere to treatment, and treatment adherence. Relationships between alliance and psychosocial well-being were examined bivariately. Multiple linear regression models examined the relationship between alliance and adherence, controlling for confounding influences (eg, psychosocial well-being).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Alliance was significantly (P ≤ .01) and positively associated with greater perceived social support and less severe illness-related grief. After controlling for significant confounding influences (ie, metastases, appraised support, and grief), alliance remained significantly (P ≤ .01) associated with greater willingness to adhere to treatment and greater adherence to oral medication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By developing a strong alliance, oncologists may enhance psychosocial well-being and increase treatment adherence in young adult patients with advanced cancer.
authors.affiliation: Center for Psychosocial Epidemiology and Outcomes Research, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 01225, USA.
authors.forename: Kelly M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Trevino
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fasciano
authors.forename: Holly G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Prigerson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult