Treatment preference, adherence and outcomes in patients with cancer: literature review and development of a theoretical model

AbstractObjective:A patient’s preference may guide their behavior and influence their willingness to take medication or undergo treatment affecting outcomes, such as health-related quality of life, or survival. The importance of understanding patient preferences within oncology is unclear and few adherence studies exist compared with other therapeutic areas.Research design and methods:This study was designed to review the literature regarding patient preferences, adherence and their link to outcomes specifically in the oncology setting and to propose a theoretical model. An in-depth review was conducted, using Embase, MEDLINE and Cochrane Library databases to search for published data examining patient preference, adherence and oncology-specific outcomes, from 1982–2012. Articles were reviewed independently by two authors and rated for relevance and quality. Information from high-quality articles and discussion with oncology and patient preference experts were used to identify associations between importa...