mHealth to Improve Medication Adherence Among Latina Breast Cancer Patients Experiencing Non-Medical Drivers of Health

Conditions studied

Treatment Adherence

About this study

Background: Hormonal therapy (HT) is highly effective for nearly all breast cancer patients with hormone receptor-positive tumors, which are about 80% of all breast cancer diagnoses. Long-term use of HT reduces cancer recurrence rates and cuts the risk of mortality nearly in half during the second decade after diagnosis. Despite proven benefits, 33% of women who are prescribed HT do not take it as prescribed (\<80% take their daily dosage). Latina patients are disproportionately affected by non-medical drivers of health (NMDoH) that keep them from adhering to HT and are at higher risk of breast cancer recurrence and mortality. Objective: The goal of this 4-year randomized controlled study is to assess the effectiveness of the bilingual, culturally tailored, interactive HT Helper App, in combination with patient navigation (PN), on improving adherence to HT among Latina breast cancer patients experiencing any NMDoH barriers, such as income, health insurance, education, health literacy, and language, that impact their medication adherence. This theory-based intervention will increase patient education, enhance self-efficacy, facilitate communication with the medical team and coordination of resources to address NMDoH barriers, and help patients develop self-care skills for optimal adherence to HT, ensuring patients the most equitable treatment outcomes possible, including improvement in quality of life, survival, and life expectancy. Specific Aims/Hypothesis: 1) Conduct a 3-group randomized study to assess the effectiveness of the HT Helper App + PN vs. PN alone vs. usual care, on HT adherence; and 2) Assess the effect of each study condition on patient self-efficacy to identify side effects, use self-care to manage side effects, and communicate with the medical team. We hypothesize that the HT Helper App + PN and the PN alone groups will have greater rates of HT adherence and higher patient self-efficacy than the usual care group; with the HT Helper App + PN achieving better results than both PN alone and the usual care groups. Study Design. The proposed study involves a parallel 3-group randomized controlled trial with 5-time assessments (baseline, 3, 6, 12, and 18 months) and will enroll 159 breast cancer patients who are prescribed HT and are attending the breast clinic at the Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio. Intervention components are based on Social Cognitive Theory and elements of Motivational Interviewing. Cancer Relevance. This…

Interventions

• Behavioral: HT Helper app use plus patient navigation support — HT Helper app plus patient navigation support to promote hormone therapy adherence among breast cancer patients experiencing NMDoH barriers
• Behavioral: Patient Navigation support alone — Patient navigation support to address NMDoH barriers impacting hormone therapy adherence
• Other: Usual Care — Usual care provided to patients who are prescribed hormone therapy and attend the Breast Clinic at the Mays Cancer Center

Primary outcomes

• Adherence to hormone therapy (From enrollment to end of the intervention at 18 months)
• Self-efficacy for Appropriate Medication Use Scale (SEAMS) (From enrollment to the end of the intervention at 18 months)
• Social support (From enrollment to the end of the intervention at 18 months)