Understanding health literacy's moderating role in remote monitoring for adjuvant endocrine therapy: Findings from a randomized clinical trial.

Authors

null

Ilana Graetz

Emory University, Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA

Ilana Graetz , Xin Hu , Rebecca A. Krukowski , Mehmet Kocak , Janeane Nicole Anderson , Teresa M. Waters , Andrea Curry , Edward Stepanski , Gregory A. Vidal , Lee S. Schwartzberg

Organizations

Emory University, Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottsville, VA, International School of Medicine, Instabul, Turkey, University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine Memphis, Memphis, TN, Augusta University School of Public Health, Augusta, GA, West Cancer Center and Research Institute, Germantown, TN, Ovation.io, Cambridge, MA, West Cancer Center & Research Institute, Germantown, TN, Renown Health-Pennington Cancer Institute, Reno, NV

Research Funding

U.S. National Institutes of Health

Background: Despite the efficacy of oral adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) for improving survival among women with hormone receptor-positive early-stage breast cancer, adherence rates remain low. Our THRIVE study (NCT03592771) investigated the effectiveness of a mobile health remote monitoring app with and without tailored educational messages on AET adherence among women with breast cancer and found no statistically significant treatment effects on 1-year AET adherence overall. Health literacy contributes to patients’ understanding of their treatment plans. We conducted a post hoc analysis of the THRIVE study to examine if health literacy moderates the effectiveness of this intervention. Methods: This non-blinded randomized controlled trial included women with early-stage breast cancer prescribed AET at a large cancer center with 14 clinics across three states. Participants used a pillbox to electronically monitor AET adherence for 1 year and completed surveys at enrollment. Consented participants were randomized into (1) “App”, receiving access to the study adherence and symptom monitoring app for 6 months, with increasing/severe symptoms and missed doses reported in the app triggering follow-ups from the oncology team; (2) “App+Feedback”, receiving additional weekly text messages about managing symptoms, adherence, and communication for 6 months; or (3) “Enhanced Usual Care (EUC).” The primary outcome was 1-year AET adherence captured with the pillbox (≥80% Proportion of Days Covered [PDC] vs. < 80%). The enrollment survey captured participant’s sociodemographic characteristics, including race and ethnicity, education, household income, and health literacy. We used a linear probability model to measure the interaction between the study arm and health literacy on AET adherence. Results: Among 304 women randomized (104 EUC, 98 App, and 102 App+Feedback), the 12-month follow-up retention rate was 88% (n = 266) and 19.4% reported low health literacy at enrollment. Low health literacy was more prevalent among Black (29.4%) vs. White (13.4%) participants (p < 0.001), those with incomes below the federal poverty level (34.4% vs. 17.2% of those with higher incomes, p = 0.02), and those with only a high school degree or lower education (31.7%) vs. with those with some college or higher education (16.4%, p < 0.01). In the low health literacy group, 80.0% of App+Feedback were AET adherent vs. 42.1% of EUC, a 37.9 percentage point (ppt) difference (95% CI: 4.1 to 71.7, p= 0.03); in higher literacy group adherence, 47.1% of App+Feedback vs. 59.0% of EUC were adherent, a -11.8 ppt difference (95% CI: -27.9 to 4.3, p= 0.15). Conclusions: A remote monitoring app with tailored educational text messages led to higher 1-year AET adherence among participants with low health literacy, but not for those with high health literacy. Clinical trial information: NCT03592771.

Disclaimer

This material on this page is ©2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology, all rights reserved. Licensing available upon request. For more information, please contact licensing@asco.org

Abstract Details

Meeting

2024 ASCO Quality Care Symposium

Session Type

Oral Abstract Session

Session Title

Oral Abstract Session B

Track

Health Care Access, Equity, and Disparities,Patient Experience,Quality, Safety, and Implementation Science

Sub Track

Interventions and Policies to Optimize Health Equity

Clinical Trial Registration Number

NCT03592771

Citation

JCO Oncol Pract 20, 2024 (suppl 10; abstr 45)

DOI

10.1200/OP.2024.20.10_suppl.45

Abstract #

45

Abstract Disclosures

Similar Abstracts

First Author: Diego Cacho

First Author: Hannah DeLuna