Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Psychosocial factors related to non-persistence with adjuvant endocrine therapy among women with breast cancer: the Breast Cancer Quality of Care Study (BQUAL)

  • Epidemiology
  • Published:
Breast Cancer Research and Treatment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Non-adherence to adjuvant endocrine therapy (ET) for breast cancer (BC) is common. Our goal was to determine the associations between psychosocial factors and ET non-persistence. We recruited women with BC receiving care in an integrated healthcare system between 2006 and 2010. Using a subset of patients treated with ET, we investigated factors related to ET non-persistence (discontinuation) based on pharmacy records (≥90 days gap). Serial interviews were conducted at baseline and every 6 months. The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT), Medical Outcomes Survey, Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (TSQM), Impact of Events Scale (IES), Interpersonal Processes of Care measure, and Decision-making beliefs and concerns were measured. Multivariate models assessed factors associated with non-persistence. Of the 523 women in our final cohort who initiated ET and had a subsequent evaluation, 94 (18 %) were non-persistent over a 2-year follow-up. The cohort was primarily white (74.4 %), stage 1 (60.6 %), and on an aromatase inhibitor (68.1 %). Women in the highest income category had a lower odds of being non-persistent (OR 0.43, 95 % CI 0.23–0.81). Quality of life and attitudes toward ET at baseline were associated with non-persistence. At follow-up, the FACT, TSQM, and IES were associated with non-persistence (p < 0.001). Most women continued ET. Women who reported a better attitude toward ET, better quality of life, and more treatment satisfaction, were less likely to be non-persistent and those who reported intrusive/avoidant thoughts were more likely to be non-persistent. Interventions to enhance the psychosocial well-being of patients should be evaluated to increase adherence.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Burstein HJ, Prestrud AA, Seidenfeld J, Anderson H, Buchholz TA, Davidson NE, Gelmon KE, Giordano SH, Hudis CA, Malin J, Mamounas EP, Rowden D, Solky AJ, Sowers MR, Stearns V, Winer EP, Somerfield MR, Griggs JJ (2010) American Society of Clinical Oncology clinical practice guideline: update on adjuvant endocrine therapy for women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. J Clin Oncol 28(23):3784–3796. doi:10.1200/JCO.2009.26.3756

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Early Breast Cancer Trialists’ Collaborative Group (EBCTCG) (2005) Effects of chemotherapy and hormonal therapy for early breast cancer on recurrence and 15-year survival: an overview of the randomised trials. Lancet 365(9472):1687–1717. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(05)66544-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Baum M, Budzar AU, Cuzick J, Forbes J, Houghton JH, Klijn JG, Sahmoud T (2002) Anastrozole alone or in combination with tamoxifen versus tamoxifen alone for adjuvant treatment of postmenopausal women with early breast cancer: first results of the ATAC randomised trial. Lancet 359(9324):2131–2139

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Coombes RC, Hall E, Gibson LJ, Paridaens R, Jassem J, Delozier T, Jones SE, Alvarez I, Bertelli G, Ortmann O, Coates AS, Bajetta E, Dodwell D, Coleman RE, Fallowfield LJ, Mickiewicz E, Andersen J, Lonning PE, Cocconi G, Stewart A, Stuart N, Snowdon CF, Carpentieri M, Massimini G, Bliss JM, van de Velde C (2004) A randomized trial of exemestane after two to three years of tamoxifen therapy in postmenopausal women with primary breast cancer. N Engl J Med 350(11):1081–1092. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa040331

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Goss PE, Ingle JN, Martino S, Robert NJ, Muss HB, Piccart MJ, Castiglione M, Tu D, Shepherd LE, Pritchard KI, Livingston RB, Davidson NE, Norton L, Perez EA, Abrams JS, Cameron DA, Palmer MJ, Pater JL (2005) Randomized trial of letrozole following tamoxifen as extended adjuvant therapy in receptor-positive breast cancer: updated findings from NCIC CTG MA.17. J Natl Cancer Inst 97(17):1262–1271. doi:10.1093/jnci/dji250

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Goss PE, Ingle JN, Martino S, Robert NJ, Muss HB, Piccart MJ, Castiglione M, Tu D, Shepherd LE, Pritchard KI, Livingston RB, Davidson NE, Norton L, Perez EA, Abrams JS, Therasse P, Palmer MJ, Pater JL (2003) A randomized trial of letrozole in postmenopausal women after five years of tamoxifen therapy for early-stage breast cancer. N Engl J Med 349(19):1793–1802

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Howell A, Cuzick J, Baum M, Buzdar A, Dowsett M, Forbes JF, Hoctin-Boes G, Houghton J, Locker GY, Tobias JS (2005) Results of the ATAC (Arimidex, Tamoxifen, Alone or in Combination) trial after completion of 5 years’ adjuvant treatment for breast cancer. Lancet 365(9453):60–62. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(04)17666-6

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Thurlimann B, Keshaviah A, Coates AS, Mouridsen H, Mauriac L, Forbes JF, Paridaens R, Castiglione-Gertsch M, Gelber RD, Rabaglio M, Smith I, Wardley A, Price KN, Goldhirsch A (2005) A comparison of letrozole and tamoxifen in postmenopausal women with early breast cancer. N Engl J Med 353(26):2747–2757. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa052258

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Davies C, Pan H, Godwin J, Gray R, Arriagada R, Raina V, Abraham M, Medeiros Alencar VH, Badran A, Bonfill X, Bradbury J, Clarke M, Collins R, Davis SR, Delmestri A, Forbes JF, Haddad P, Hou MF, Inbar M, Khaled H, Kielanowska J, Kwan WH, Mathew BS, Mittra I, Muller B, Nicolucci A, Peralta O, Pernas F, Petruzelka L, Pienkowski T, Radhika R, Rajan B, Rubach MT, Tort S, Urrutia G, Valentini M, Wang Y, Peto R (2013) Long-term effects of continuing adjuvant tamoxifen to 10 years versus stopping at 5 years after diagnosis of oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancer: ATLAS, a randomised trial. Lancet 381(9869):805–816. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61963-1

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Burstein HJ, Temin S, Anderson H, Buchholz TA, Davidson NE, Gelmon KE, Giordano SH, Hudis CA, Rowden D, Solky AJ, Stearns V, Winer EP, Griggs JJ (2014) Adjuvant endocrine therapy for women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer: American Society of Clinical Oncology clinical practice guideline focused update. J Clin Oncol 32(21):2255–2269. doi:10.1200/JCO.2013.54.2258

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Hershman DL, Kushi LH, Shao T, Buono D, Kershenbaum A, Tsai WY, Fehrenbacher L, Lin Gomez S, Miles S, Neugut AI (2010) Early discontinuation and nonadherence to adjuvant hormonal therapy in a cohort of 8,769 early-stage breast cancer patients. J Clin Oncol 28(27):4120–4128. doi:10.1200/JCO.2009.25.9655

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Neugut AI, Hillyer GC, Kushi LH, Lamerato L, Leoce N, Nathanson SD, Ambrosone CB, Bovbjerg DH, Mandelblatt JS, Magai C, Tsai WY, Jacobson JS, Hershman DL (2012) Non-initiation of adjuvant hormonal therapy in women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer: the Breast Cancer Quality of Care Study (BQUAL). Breast Cancer Res Treat 134(1):419–428. doi:10.1007/s10549-012-2066-9

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Partridge AH, LaFountain A, Mayer E, Taylor BS, Winer E, Asnis-Alibozek A (2008) Adherence to initial adjuvant anastrozole therapy among women with early-stage breast cancer. J Clin Oncol 26(4):556–562

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Bickell NA, LePar F, Wang JJ, Leventhal H (2007) Lost opportunities: physicians’ reasons and disparities in breast cancer treatment. J Clin Oncol 25(18):2516–2521

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Partridge AH, Wang PS, Winer EP, Avorn J (2003) Nonadherence to adjuvant tamoxifen therapy in women with primary breast cancer. J Clin Oncol 21(4):602–606

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Henry NL, Azzouz F, Desta Z, Li L, Nguyen AT, Lemler S, Hayden J, Tarpinian K, Yakim E, Flockhart DA, Stearns V, Hayes DF, Storniolo AM (2012) Predictors of aromatase inhibitor discontinuation as a result of treatment-emergent symptoms in early-stage breast cancer. J Clin Oncol 30(9):936–942. doi:10.1200/JCO.2011.38.0261

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. Hershman DL, Shao T, Kushi LH, Buono D, Tsai WY, Fehrenbacher L, Kwan M, Gomez SL, Neugut AI (2011) Early discontinuation and non-adherence to adjuvant hormonal therapy are associated with increased mortality in women with breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 126(2):529–537. doi:10.1007/s10549-010-1132-4

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. Gould E, Mitty E (2010) Medication adherence is a partnership, medication compliance is not. Geriatr Nurs 31(4):290–298. doi:10.1016/j.gerinurse.2010.05.004

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Hershman DL, Tsui J, Meyer J, Glied S, Hillyer GC, Wright JD, Neugut AI (2014) The change from brand-name to generic aromatase inhibitors and hormone therapy adherence for early-stage breast cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst. doi:10.1093/jnci/dju319

    Google Scholar 

  20. Hershman DL, Tsui J, Wright JD, Coromilas EJ, Tsai WY, Neugut AI (2015) Household net worth, racial disparities, and hormonal therapy adherence among women with early-stage breast cancer. J Clin Oncol 33(9):1053–1059. doi:10.1200/JCO.2014.58.3062

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  21. Neugut AI, Hillyer GC, Kushi LH, Lamerato L, Nathanson SD, Ambrosone CB, Bovbjerg DH, Mandelblatt JS, Magai C, Tsai WY, Jacobson JS, Hershman DL (2012) The Breast Cancer Quality of Care Study (BQUAL): a multi-center study to determine causes for noncompliance with breast cancer adjuvant therapy. Breast J 18(3):203–213. doi:10.1111/j.1524-4741.2012.01240.x

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Charlson ME, Pompei P, Ales KL, MacKenzie CR (1987) A new method of classifying prognostic comorbidity in longitudinal studies: development and validation. J Chronic Dis 40(5):373–383

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Cella DF, Tulsky DS, Gray G, Sarafian B, Linn E, Bonomi A, Silberman M, Yellen SB, Winicour P, Brannon J et al (1993) The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy scale: development and validation of the general measure. J Clin Oncol 11(3):570–579

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Llewellyn-Thomas HA, McGreal MJ, Thiel EC, Fine S, Erlichman C (1991) Patients’ willingness to enter clinical trials: measuring the association with perceived benefit and preference for decision participation. Soc Sci Med 32(1):35–42

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Mandelblatt JS, Sheppard VB, Hurria A, Kimmick G, Isaacs C, Taylor KL, Kornblith AB, Noone AM, Luta G, Tallarico M, Barry WT, Hunegs L, Zon R, Naughton M, Winer E, Hudis C, Edge SB, Cohen HJ, Muss H (2010) Breast cancer adjuvant chemotherapy decisions in older women: the role of patient preference and interactions with physicians. J Clin Oncol 28(19):3146–3153. doi:10.1200/JCO.2009.24.3295

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  26. Sherbourne CD, Stewart AL (1991) The MOS social support survey. Soc Sci Med 32(6):705–714

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Atkinson MJ, Sinha A, Hass SL, Colman SS, Kumar RN, Brod M, Rowland CR (2004) Validation of a general measure of treatment satisfaction, the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM), using a national panel study of chronic disease. Health Qual Life Outcomes 2(12):26

    Google Scholar 

  28. Weiss DS, Marmar CR (1997) The Impact of Event Scale—revised. In: Wilson JP, Keane TM (eds) Assessing psychological trauma and PTSD. Guilford Press, New York, pp 399–411

    Google Scholar 

  29. Baider L, Andritsch E, Uziely B, Goldzweig G, Ever-Hadani P, Hofman G, Krenn G, Samonigg H (2003) Effects of age on coping and psychological distress in women diagnosed with breast cancer: review of literature and analysis of two different geographical settings. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 46(1):5–16

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Vin-Raviv N, Hillyer GC, Hershman DL, Galea S, Leoce N, Bovbjerg DH, Kushi LH, Kroenke C, Lamerato L, Ambrosone CB, Valdimorsdottir H, Jandorf L, Mandelblatt JS, Tsai WY, Neugut AI (2013) Racial disparities in posttraumatic stress after diagnosis of localized breast cancer: the BQUAL study. J Natl Cancer Inst 105(8):563–572. doi:10.1093/jnci/djt024

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  31. Stewart AL, Napoles-Springer AM, Gregorich SE, Santoyo-Olsson J (2007) Interpersonal processes of care survey: patient-reported measures for diverse groups. Health Serv Res 42(3 Pt 1):1235–1256. doi:10.1111/j.1475-6773.2006.00637.x

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  32. Chang VT, Hwang SS, Feuerman M, Kasimis BS, Thaler HT (2000) The memorial symptom assessment scale short form (MSAS-SF). Cancer 89(5):1162–1171

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Kwan ML, Ergas IJ, Somkin CP, Quesenberry CP Jr, Neugut AI, Hershman DL, Mandelblatt J, Pelayo MP, Timperi AW, Miles SQ, Kushi LH (2010) Quality of life among women recently diagnosed with invasive breast cancer: the pathways study. Breast Cancer Res Treat 123(2):507–524. doi:10.1007/s10549-010-0764-8

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  34. Bowles EJA, Boudreau DM, Chubak J, Yu O, Fujii M, Chestnut J, Buist DS (2012) Patient-reported discontinuation of endocrine therapy and related adverse effects among women with early-stage breast cancer. J Oncol Pract 8(6):e149–e157. doi:10.1200/JOP.2012.000543

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Kidwell KM, Harte SE, Hayes DF, Storniolo AM, Carpenter J, Flockhart DA, Stearns V, Clauw DJ, Williams DA, Henry NL (2014) Patient-reported symptoms and discontinuation of adjuvant aromatase inhibitor therapy. Cancer 120(16):2403–2411. doi:10.1002/cncr.28756

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  36. Brito C, Portela MC, de Vasconcellos MT (2014) Adherence to hormone therapy among women with breast cancer. BMC Cancer 14:397. doi:10.1186/1471-2407-14-397

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  37. Piette JD, Heisler M, Krein S, Kerr EA (2005) The role of patient-physician trust in moderating medication nonadherence due to cost pressures. Arch Intern Med 165(15):1749–1755. doi:10.1001/archinte.165.15.1749

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Pellegrini I, Sarradon-Eck A, Soussan PB, Lacour AC, Largillier R, Tallet A, Tarpin C, Julian-Reynier C (2010) Women’s perceptions and experience of adjuvant tamoxifen therapy account for their adherence: breast cancer patients’ point of view. Psychooncology 19(5):472–479. doi:10.1002/pon.1593

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Liu Y, Malin JL, Diamant AL, Thind A, Maly RC (2013) Adherence to adjuvant hormone therapy in low-income women with breast cancer: the role of provider-patient communication. Breast Cancer Res Treat 137(3):829–836. doi:10.1007/s10549-012-2387-8

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  40. Horne R, Weinman J (1999) Patients’ beliefs about prescribed medicines and their role in adherence to treatment in chronic physical illness. J Psychosom Res 47(6):555–567

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Van Liew JR, Christensen AJ, de Moor JS (2014) Psychosocial factors in adjuvant hormone therapy for breast cancer: an emerging context for adherence research. J Cancer Surviv Res Pract 8(3):521–531. doi:10.1007/s11764-014-0374-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Fink AK, Gurwitz J, Rakowski W, Guadagnoli E, Silliman RA (2004) Patient beliefs and tamoxifen discontinuance in older women with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. J Clin Oncol 22(16):3309–3315. doi:10.1200/jco.2004.11.064

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Kimmick G, Anderson R, Camacho F, Bhosle M, Hwang W, Balkrishnan R (2009) Adjuvant hormonal therapy use among insured, low-income women with breast cancer. J Clin Oncol 27(21):3445–3451

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  44. Iihara N, Tsukamoto T, Morita S, Miyoshi C, Takabatake K, Kurosaki Y (2004) Beliefs of chronically ill Japanese patients that lead to intentional non-adherence to medication. J Clin Pharm Ther 29(5):417–424. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2710.2004.00580.x

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Heisey R, Pimlott N, Clemons M, Cummings S, Drummond N (2006) Women’s views on chemoprevention of breast cancer: qualitative study. Can Fam Phys 52:624–625

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Bickell NA, Weidmann J, Fei K, Lin JJ, Leventhal H (2009) Underuse of breast cancer adjuvant treatment: patient knowledge, beliefs, and medical mistrust. J Clin Oncol 27(31):5160–5167. doi:10.1200/JCO.2009.22.9773

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  47. Allin S, Masseria C, Mossialos E (2009) Measuring socioeconomic differences in use of health care services by wealth versus by income. Am J Public Health 99(10):1849–1855. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2008.141499

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  48. Livaudais JC, Hershman DL, Habel L, Kushi L, Gomez SL, Li CI, Neugut AI, Fehrenbacher L, Thompson B, Coronado GD (2012) Racial/ethnic differences in initiation of adjuvant hormonal therapy among women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 131(2):607–617. doi:10.1007/s10549-011-1762-1

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Center of Excellence Award (BC043120) to Drs. Neugut/Hershman; the NCI R01 (CA105274) to Dr. Kushi; the Department of Defense (DAMD-17-01-1-0334) to Dr. Bovbjerg; and the NCI R01 (CA124924 and 127617) and U10 (CA 84131) to Dr. Mandelblatt. Drs. Hershman is the recipient of funding from the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dawn L. Hershman.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

All authors report no conflicts of interest. All of the authors are responsible for the data analysis and interpretation. No additional individuals were involved in the analysis.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hershman, D.L., Kushi, L.H., Hillyer, G.C. et al. Psychosocial factors related to non-persistence with adjuvant endocrine therapy among women with breast cancer: the Breast Cancer Quality of Care Study (BQUAL). Breast Cancer Res Treat 157, 133–143 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-016-3788-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-016-3788-x

Keywords

Navigation