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New oral targeted therapies for metastatic breast cancer disrupt the traditional patients’ management—A healthcare providers’ view
Author(s) -
Martin E.,
Pourtau L.,
Di Palma M.,
Delaloge S.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
european journal of cancer care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.849
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1365-2354
pISSN - 0961-5423
DOI - 10.1111/ecc.12624
Subject(s) - medicine , metastatic breast cancer , breast cancer , health care , medical prescription , modalities , intensive care medicine , pharmacy , alliance , cancer , targeted therapy , oncology , family medicine , nursing , social science , sociology , economics , economic growth , political science , law
Although a cure still cannot be expected for metastatic breast cancer, thanks to progressive advances in treatments, life expectancy has been increasing over the past 15 years. This study aims to present the impact on the organisation of patients’ management of newly released oral targeted therapies dedicated to metastatic breast cancer and the obstacles to their diffusion. Our work is based on the analysis of 40 semi‐structured interviews, conducted with oncology healthcare professionals in three regions of France (2015–2016). It shows three main results. First, the prescription of an oral targeted therapy requires greater collaboration between healthcare professionals than traditional intravenous oncology drugs, which may be challenging. Second, there remain many barriers to the dissemination of oral targeted therapies. Third, taking an oral targeted therapy keeps the patient away from the hospital facility and asks for a strong therapeutic alliance. The management of oral targeted therapies is time‐consuming for medical oncologists and disrupts the traditional care pathway. The multiplication of actors involved in patients’ management reinforces the slowdown in the deployment and acceptance of therapeutic innovations. More players equal a higher risk of slowdown. Questioning and re‐designing hospital organisation and management modalities towards this type of care are critical.