Are illness perceptions, beliefs about medicines and Type D personality associated with medication adherence among thyroid cancer survivors? A study from the population-based PROFILES registry

Abstract

Objective: To examine self-reported medication adherence and its association with illness perceptions, beliefs about medication and personality among thyroid cancer survivors. Methods: Individuals diagnosed with thyroid cancer between 1990 and 2008, as registered in the Eindhoven Cancer Registry, received our survey; 86% (n ¼ 306) responded. Results: Many patients reported that they never forgot taking their medicines (n ¼ 168; 56%), never altered the dose (n ¼ 258; 88%), never stopped taking them (n ¼ 291; 99%), never decided to miss a dose (n ¼ 284; 97%) and never took less than instructed (n ¼ 286; 97%). Fifty-two percent were classified as nonadherent; of which 14% intentional nonadherent only, 70% were nonintentional nonadherent only and 16% were both intentional and nonintentional nonadherent. Nonadherers were younger, more highly educated, more often employed, had a lower stage at diagnosis, and less often reported !2 comorbid conditions than adherers. Furthermore, their illness affected them more emotionally and they more often reported that their life would be impossible without their medicine. Logistic regression models showed that higher age, lower education and lower perceived necessity of medication was associated with better adherence while beliefs about medication, illness perceptions, and personality were not associated with adherence. Conclusions: Despite lifelong dependence on supplement therapy, 52% of thyroid cancer survivors were nonadherent. ARTICLE HISTORY

Negative illness perceptions are related to poorer health‐related quality of life among thyroid cancer survivors: Results from the PROFILES registry

“…[17][18][19] A previous study examining illness perceptions among DTC survivors showed that illness perceptions were often unrelated to the clinical objective severity of the disease, and suggested that understanding and referring to illness perceptions of patients with DTC is critical as they could strongly impact their perceived health and HRQoL. 20 Previous studies of our group have shown that illness perceptions are unrelated to medication adherence 21 and function as a mediator for the relation between information provision and perceived distress. 22 Furthermore, we previously concluded that the impact of DTC on HRQoL is greater among younger than older survivors.…”

Psychological Distress and Illness Perceptions in Thyroid Cancer Survivors: Does Age Matter?

“…This study was based upon a population-based survey among thyroid cancer survivors registered within the Netherlands Cancer Registry (NCR), which compiles data of all individuals newly diagnosed with cancer. 26 The NCR was used to select everyone diagnosed with thyroid cancer between 1990 and 2008 (n = 568) in the southern part of the Netherlands, an area with 2.3 million inhabitants. We excluded patients with cognitive impairment or those who, according to their treating physician, were deemed too ill at time of the study to fill out questionnaires (n = 31), those with unverifiable addresses (n = 90), and those who died before the start of the study according to the NCR, hospital records, and the Central Bureau for Genealogy (n = 6).…”

“…We excluded patients with cognitive impairment or those who, according to their treating physician, were deemed too ill at time of the study to fill out questionnaires (n = 31), those with unverifiable addresses (n = 90), and those who died before the start of the study according to the NCR, hospital records, and the Central Bureau for Genealogy (n = 6). 26 One hospital refrained from participation in the study (n = 86). We sent invitations to participate to the remaining 355 thyroid cancer survivors.…”

“…11 Eligible patients were informed about the study by a letter from their (former) treating physician. 26 Interested patients could provide informed consent and complete questionnaires online. Paper-and-pencil versions of the informed consent form and questionnaire were available upon request for those who preferred this.…”

“…Paper-and-pencil versions of the informed consent form and questionnaire were available upon request for those who preferred this. 26 The certified Medical Ethics Committee of the Maxima Medical Centre, the Netherlands, approved this study.…”