| Summary: | Paik Ling Chuah,1 Nurnina Fareeha Jamal,1 Chai Jin Siew,1 Ros Suzanna Ahmad Bustamam,2 Vaishnavi Jeyasingam,2 Khei Choong Khong3 1Department of Pharmacy, Kuala Lumpur Hospital, Ministry of Health, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; 2Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Kuala Lumpur Hospital, Ministry of Health, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; 3Department of Pharmacy, National Cancer Institute, Ministry of Health, Putrajaya, MalaysiaCorrespondence: Paik Ling ChuahDepartment of Pharmacy, Kuala Lumpur Hospital, Ministry of Health, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaTel +60 3 2615 5834Email paik_ling@moh.gov.myPurpose: To evaluate the rate and predictors of non-adherence to imatinib in gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) patients, as well as to compare the difference in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) between adherent and non-adherent patients.Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study at the Oncology Clinic, Hospital Kuala Lumpur was conducted from March to August 2018. All patients with metastatic and/or unresectable GIST aged ≥ 18 years old and on at least 3 months of imatinib were included. Adherence to imatinib was assessed using the 10-item validated Medication Compliance Questionnaire, with a score of < 100% indicating non-adherence. Non-adherence predictors were determined by multiple logistic regressions. HRQOL was evaluated by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30). The difference in the mean HRQOL scores between adherent and non-adherent groups was determined by multivariate analysis of variance.Results: A total of 89 patients were enrolled, of which 49 (55.1%) were considered non-adherent. The significant predictors of non-adherence were age (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.93; CI 0.89– 0.98; P = 0.007), presence of nausea and vomiting (OR 5.63; CI 1.25– 25.27; P = 0.024), and presence of comorbidities (OR 4.56; CI 1.44– 14.40; P = 0.010). Patients who were in the adherent group showed significantly better score in overall HRQOL, F (15, 73) = 2.09, P < 0.02; Pillai’s trace = 0.3, partial eta squared = 0.30.Conclusion: Non-adherence to long-term treatment with imatinib among patients with GIST should not be underestimated. Significant predictors of non-adherence among this population are younger age, presence of nausea and vomiting, as well as comorbidities. Patients with good adherence portrayed better HRQOL.Keywords: compliance, imatinib, gastrointestinal stromal tumor, quality of life
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