Assessment and Measurement of Adherence to Oral Antineoplastic Agents

ObjectivesThe increase in oral anticancer medications with complex regimens creates a need to assure that patients are taking therapeutic dosages as prescribed. This article reviews the assessment and measurement of adherence to oral antineoplastic agents.Data SourcesResearch and journal articles from CINAHL and PubMed.ConclusionAssessing and measuring adherence to oral antineoplastics should include three dimensions: the percentage of medications taken, the duration, and the timing of taking the medication.Implications for Nursing PracticeClinicians need to conduct ongoing assessment and measurement of adherence to oral antineoplastic agents. This includes eliciting patient report of adherence, pill counts, drug diaries, and pharmacy or medical record audits.