Patient perspectives on interprofessional information and counseling in oral anticancer therapy

The increasing use of oral anticancer therapies (OAT) requires comprehensive information, counseling, and self-management support to ensure safe and effective use at home. This study examines patients' experiences with information and counseling during OAT and explores the roles of different healthcare professionals (HCPs) in this process.

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients undergoing OAT in two oncology practices in Germany. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Deductive categories were derived from an established theoretical framework of patient-centeredness.

A total of 22 interviews were conducted (mean age 68.4 years; 15 female). Patients receiving various types of OAT for different durations were interviewed. Patients described their treating hematologist/oncologist as their main contact for information and counseling. Trust and perceived professional competence were central. Nurses were seen as an additional source of information and counseling in settings with structured oncology nursing consultations (ONC). Patients without access to structured ONC tended to attribute organizational and technical tasks to nurses. Pharmacists were rarely described as a source of information and counseling on OAT.

Hematologists/oncologists were perceived as the main source of information and counseling during OAT. ONC was valued by patients who had access to it and may represent a complementary resource for patient support. Counseling by pharmacists was reported less frequently. The findings suggest that the potential contribution of nurses and pharmacists to interprofessional, patient-centered counseling on OAT seems to have been underutilized in current outpatient oncology in Germany.

The findings highlight the importance of clear professional roles and effective interprofessional cooperation in information and counseling for patients undergoing OAT. Promoting health literacy-sensitive communication skills and a trusting patient-provider relationship may help address patients' diverse information needs. Integrating nursing and pharmaceutical counseling services into existing care structures could support better coordinated and patient-centered OAT care.