Patient experiences: a qualitative systematic review of chemotherapy adherence

• Published in: BMC cancer Vol. 24; no. 1; pp. 658 - 6
• Main Authors: Rashidi, Amineh, Thapa, Susma, Kahawaththa Palliya Guruge, Wasana Sandamali, Kaur, Shubhpreet
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 30.05.2024; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Antineoplastic Agents - adverse effects; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Beliefs, opinions and attitudes; Cancer; Cancer patients; Care and treatment; Chemotherapy; Chemotherapy treatment; Dosage and administration; Evaluation; Focus groups; Humans; Medical personnel; Medical Subject Headings-MeSH; Medication adherence; Medication Adherence - psychology; Neoplasms - drug therapy; Neoplasms - psychology; Patient compliance; Patients; Patients experiences; Qualitative Research; Research methodology; Side effects; Social networks; Subject heading schemes; Systematic Review; Australia; Medication adherence; Qualitative research; Chemotherapy treatment; Patients experiences; Cancer
• ISSN: 1471-2407; 1471-2407
• DOI: 10.1186/s12885-024-12353-z

Adherence to chemotherapy treatment is recognized as a crucial health concern, especially in managing cancer patients. Chemotherapy presents challenges for patients, as it can lead to potential side effects that may adversely affect their mobility and overall function. Patients may sometimes neglect to communicate these side effects to health professionals, which can impact treatment management and leave their unresolved needs unaddressed. However, there is limited understanding of how patients’ experiences contribute to improving adherence to chemotherapy treatment and the provision of appropriate support. Therefore, gaining insights into patients’ experiences is crucial for enhancing the accompaniment and support provided during chemotherapy. This review synthesizes qualitative literature on chemotherapy adherence within the context of patients’ experiences. Data were collected from Medline, Web of Science, CINAHL, PsychINFO, Embase, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library, systematically searched from 2006 to 2023. Keywords and MeSH terms were utilized to identify relevant research published in English. Thirteen articles were included in this review. Five key themes were synthesized from the findings, including positive outlook, receiving support, side effects, concerns about efficacy, and unmet information needs. The review underscores the importance for healthcare providers, particularly nurses, to focus on providing comprehensive information about chemotherapy treatment to patients. Adopting recommended strategies may assist patients in clinical practice settings in enhancing adherence to chemotherapy treatment and improving health outcomes for individuals living with cancer.