Adherence to Chemotherapy and Associated Factors among Patients with Cancer in the Amhara Region, Northeast Ethiopia, 2022.

Abstract

Background: Chemotherapy compliance is a joint effort and silent understanding between health workers and clients. Inadequate drug compliance is concerning due to the decreased treatment outcome of the drug. This will lead to poor survival, increased relapse, treatment failure, and elevated healthcare costs. A measure of patient treatment adherence is important for attracting the attention of healthcare providers to achieve optimal outcomes such as curative treatment or quality of life improvement. Objective: To assess the adherence to chemical treatment and associated factors among cancer patients in the Amhara Region, Northeast Ethiopia, in 2022. Methods and Materials: A retrospective cohort study was conducted with 460 cancer patients in the Amhara region using systematic randomized sampling from May 28, 2022, to June 22, 2022. An interview-based, previously tested questionnaire was used for data collection. The data have been entered into Epi-Data version 4.6 and subsequently exported to Statistical Package for Social Science version 26 for analysis. A bivariable logistic regression was carried out, and variables with a p value of 0.25 were analyzed to select the candidate variable for multivariable logistic regression. A multivariable logistic regression was carried out, and variables with a p value less than 0.05 were considered important factors and are presented as the AOR and 95% CI. The suitability of the model was verified with the Hosmer Lemeshow test, and multicollinearity was verified with a standard error. Results: Of the total respondents, 94.1% (433) of the cancer patients were involved, and the proportion of patients who adhered to chemotherapy was 42.3%. Having a family history of cancer [AOR = 3.58, 95% CI (2.22, 5.76)], being a woman [AOR = 2.17, 95% CI: (1.31, 3.60)], not having a history of comorbidity [AOR = 2.74, 95% CI (1.56, 4.81)], having no serious side effects from chemotherapy[AOR = 3.50, 95% CI (1.55, 7.90)], or social support [AOR = 1.52, 95% CI (1.21, 1.95)] were associated factors with chemotherapy adherence. Conclusion and recommendations: Health workers should contribute to the development of social support and mechanisms to reduce the occurrence of side effects of chemotherapy medication among cancer patients who have comorbidities.