Telehealth use is associated with higher adherence to endocrine therapy among women with breast cancer, according to a study in the Journal of Cancer Survivorship.
Researchers from Athens-based University of Georgia analyzed claims data from the Merative MarketScan database, examining more than 1,100 commercially insured women under age 65 who were diagnosed with nonmetastatic breast cancer and started endocrine therapy in 2018 and followed for five years after.
“The idea is to use telehealth to reinforce how important it is to keep taking these medications if you want to avoid a recurrence of your cancer or to have a metastasis,” said Lorenzo Villa-Zapata, PhD, PharmD, co-author of the study and an assistant professor at the UGA College of Pharmacy, in a March 11 news release. “If you’re a telehealth provider, you can ask if the patient has been taking their medication and if there are any issues they’re facing.”
Patients who used telehealth were 58% more likely to adhere to their endocrine therapy compared with those who did not use telehealth, the study found. The researchers said telehealth may help patients stay on treatment by reducing transportation and logistical barriers, enabling easier follow-up visits and allowing clinicians to more quickly address medication side effects.
The post Telehealth helps breast cancer patients adhere to treatment: Study appeared first on Becker's Hospital Review | Healthcare News & Analysis.
Source: Read Original Article
