Background: Prescribing oral oncolytic agents (OAs) for advanced cancers is increasing.
Aims: To explore changes in medication beliefs and the effects of symptom severity, cognitive effectiveness and depressive symptoms on medication beliefs over 12 weeks.
Methods: Secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial, testing an intervention to promote symptom management and adherence [N = 230]. Questionnaires evaluated medication beliefs, symptom severity, depressive symptoms, and cognitive effectiveness. Linear mixed effects models were used for analyses.
Results: OA Necessity beliefs increased over time (mean difference 0.0112, SE = 0.055, p 0.04). Concern beliefs did not change and were lower for advanced cancers (-0.193, SE = 0.067, p < 0.01).Depressive symptoms were related to decreased Necessity beliefs (-0.012, SE = 0.005, p = 0.02), but not Concern beliefs. Medication beliefs were not associated with symptom severity or cognitive effectiveness.
Conclusion: Patients with advanced cancer hold different medication beliefs compared to earlier staged cancers, lending insight into potential outcomes beyond adherence.
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02043184.
Keywords: cognitive effectiveness; depressive symptoms; medication beliefs; oral oncolytic agents; symptoms.