Investigating how women with breast cancer view Tamoxifen
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigating how women with breast cancer view Tamoxifen: A mixed-methods study
IRAS ID
159037
Contact name
Lyndsay Hughes
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 29 days
Research summary
Tamoxifen is prescribed after treatment for breast cancer and can significantly reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence or mortality. However many women do not take Tamoxifen as prescribed. This is known as non-adherence and can increase the chance of breast cancer recurrence and death. We need to identify why women are not adhering so we can intervene to improve adherence rates. Little research has attempted to understand why women do not adhere to Tamoxifen. Recent reviews into this area have highlighted a critical need to identify psychosocial predictors of adherence. This study will interview women who have been prescribed Tamoxifen to understand their experiences, perceptions and expectations. A large questionnaire study will then be carried out to identify psychosocial factors which may be related to adherence. These include depression, beliefs about medications and social support. Patients who are in within their first year of treatment will be followed up for 12 months to see which factors predict adherence longitudinally. They will be sent questionnaires in 3, 6 and 12 months’ time.
In order to be eligible for the research, participants must have a diagnosis of primary breast cancer and have been prescribed Tamoxifen. They must be female and over the age of eighteen. Participants will be recruited from Guy’s and St Thomas’ Trust and other NHS trusts, patient support groups and support websites. The research has been funded by Breast Cancer Campaign.
The results of these studies will show the prevalence of non-adherence and will identify modifiable psychosocial factors which are related to non-adherence. These factors will then be used as the basis for a future intervention study to improve adherence rates. Improving adherence rates has the potential to improve prognosis and quality of life for patients and will reduce medical costs and mortality rates.
REC name
East Midlands - Leicester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/EM/1207
Date of REC Opinion
29 Oct 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion