Sam Smith, PhD, from University of Leeds, discusses the association between menopausal symptoms and adherence for patients with breast cancer taking tamoxifen.

 matched a patient’s adherence to the menopausal symptoms they experienced. Symptoms measured were headaches, nausea and vomiting, gynecologic issues, and hot flashes. Although no association was found between gynecologic symptoms or hot flashes and nonadherence, researchers did find that patients who experienced nausea and vomiting or headaches were less likely to adhere to their medication.

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Sam Smith, PhD, discusses the relationship between menopausal symptoms and non-adherence in patients receiving tamoxifen.

Sam Smith on the Association Between Adherence and Menopausal Symptoms

Sam Smith, PhD, from the University of Leeds, discusses strategies to improve adherence that is affected by menopausal symptoms.

While attending the 2016 Meeting of the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, Smith 

 of a trial studying how misattributing menopausal symptoms to tamoxifen therapy could create non-adherence in patients with breast cancer. Two interventions Smith suggests are cognitive behavior therapy and more accurate discussion with providers. If the patients are more aware of and better understand the symptoms, they are more likely to adhere to the treatment.

Sam Smith, PhD, from the University of Leeds, discusses strategies to improve adherence that is affected by menopausal symptoms.


Sam Smith, PhD

Articles

Sam Smith on the Association Between Adherence and Menopausal Symptoms

Sam Smith on Improving Adherence in Patients with Breast Cancer