Reply to "adherence to Oral Cancer Therapy in Older Adults: the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) Taskforce Recommendations" by Mislang Et Al.

In their recent review article, Mislang et al. address the issue of adherence in older adults receiving oral cancer therapy [ [1] Mislang A.R. Wildes T.M. Kanesvaran R. Baldini C. Holmes H.M. Nightingale G. et al. Adherence to oral cancer therapy in older adults: The International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) taskforce recommendations. Cancer Treat Rev. 2017; 57: 58-66 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (43) Google Scholar ]. Due to cognitive issues, polypharmacy, functional decline, and age-related physical dysfunctions (visual loss, loss of manual dexterity, and swallowing disorders), older patients are at higher risk of poor adherence. The authors mention the importance of monitoring interventions to promote adherence to treatment, such as patient education programs. Yet, there are limited data on the efficacy of such programs on adherence [ [2] Stevenson F.A. Cox K. Britten N. Dundar Y. A systematic review of the research on communication between patients and health care professionals about medicines: the consequences for concordance. Health Expect. 2004; 7: 235-245 Crossref PubMed Scopus (276) Google Scholar , [3] Viswanathan M. Golin C.E. Jones C.D. Ashok M. Blalock S.J. Wines R.C. et al. Interventions to improve adherence to self-administered medications for chronic diseases in the United States: a systematic review. Ann Intern Med. 2012; 157: 785-795 Crossref PubMed Scopus (542) Google Scholar ].