Patients’ experience of medication brand changes during hormone therapy for breast cancer. An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

AbstractPurpose Medication adherence to hormone therapy (HT) in breast cancer survivors is often suboptimal, and is affected by a range of factors. Patients are usually prescribed different generic formulations of HT drugs and their impact on side effects and on adherence and persistence is poorly understood. This study aimed to explore women’s lived experience of HT medication brand changes (generic substitution), its impact on side effects, quality of life and medication-taking behaviours as well as on adherence and persistence. Methods Nine female breast cancer survivors who had previous experience of HT medication brand changes participated in the study. Individual, online, semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Results The findings identified three superordinate themes and nine subordinate themes which influenced the lived experience of medication brand changes for these patients: (i) experiencing brand changes; (2) responsiveness of health care providers; and (iii) future expectations. Conclusions Women reported negative physical and emotional experiences of brand changes, which is often compounded by healthcare professionals’ lack of information and reassurances, disbelief in the worsening of side effects, and inconsistent advice regarding generics. This has implications for women’s self-efficacy for medication-taking behaviours, ability to manage side effects, and HT adherence and persistence.