Adherence Intervention for Breast Cancer

This trial tests a new method to help women in Rwanda adhere to their breast cancer medication plan. It targets those with ER-positive breast cancer, which responds to hormone therapy. Participants will either receive additional support, such as educational videos and text reminders, or continue with standard care. This approach is part of the AET Pilot Intervention. Women who have been on hormone therapy for 6 to 36 months and can receive text messages are suitable candidates. The goal is to determine if these additional supports improve treatment adherence. As an unphased trial, this study allows participants to contribute to innovative strategies that may enhance treatment adherence and improve outcomes for future patients.

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications. However, since the study focuses on improving adherence to adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET), you will likely need to continue taking your AET medication.

A previous study tested a multi-part program to help women continue hormone therapy for breast cancer. This program included tools like text messages and symptom tracking cards. The research found the program to be generally safe and well-received by participants. Most women reported that the support tools were helpful and encouraged them to maintain their treatment.

Another review examined various programs designed to aid adherence to hormone therapy. While it primarily focused on program effectiveness, the review identified no major safety issues. Overall, participants tolerated the programs well.

Researchers are excited about the Adherence Intervention for Breast Cancer because it offers a fresh approach to improving medication adherence among patients. Unlike standard treatments that typically focus on the medication itself, this intervention emphasizes support through a light-touch, multi-modal package. Key features include a one-time educational video, a symptom monitoring card, and weekly text message reminders, all designed to help patients stick to their treatment plan. By addressing adherence in an engaging and supportive way, this intervention has the potential to enhance the effectiveness of existing breast cancer treatments.

Research has shown that adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) is crucial for reducing the risk of breast cancer recurrence in patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancers. This trial will evaluate an adherence intervention for AET. Participants in the intervention arm will receive a light-touch, multi-modal medication adherence support package, including a one-time educational video, a symptom monitoring card, and weekly one-way text message reminders. Studies have found that supporting patients in adhering to their AET treatment can significantly impact outcomes. For instance, a review of over 375,000 breast cancer survivors found that support methods like educational videos and text reminders improved adherence to treatment plans. Another study demonstrated that using various support types to address different challenges in taking AET enhanced patient adherence. Overall, these findings suggest that structured support can significantly aid patients in consistently taking their AET medication.¹²³⁴⁶