Sarah Belcher, PhD, RN, OCN®, Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, has been awarded over $3.1 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), her first R01 research grant, to study the predictors and outcomes of oral anticancer medication treatment adherence. This study will inform the development of future targeted interventions to support the growing numbers of patients taking pills as part of their cancer treatment.
An oncology nurse for over 22 years, Belcher believes understanding and addressing the multi-level barriers to cancer treatment adherence is crucial for equitably improving patient health outcomes. Her research is focusing on understanding and mitigating the challenges faced by the growing number of patients taking costly, long-term oral anticancer medications, particularly among underserved populations.
The grant will provide funding for the next five years, allowing Belcher and her team to recruit a diverse group of patients from various healthcare settings, conduct in-depth assessments to identify predictors and patterns of adherence and non-adherence, and understand how patients’ health may be affected by their ability to start and continue taking their oral cancer therapies at home.
"For the growing number of patients with cancer taking cancer treatment pills at home, it can be difficult to both start these costly medications in a timely manner and to consistently take their pills as prescribed. This can have significant negative consequences for their health. This study will help us understand how to best support patients to take their pills as prescribed and to identify patients who may be most at risk for nonadherence to therapy,” Belcher said. "By identifying and addressing these barriers, we can guide clinicians in how to best support patients and ensure that patients receive the care they need."
The study will use a multi-faceted measurement approach and leverage a novel framework combining medication adherence with health equity principles to better understand the complex factors influencing medication adherence and resulting patient outcomes.
"We are excited to have the opportunity to make a significant impact and move the science forward to inform clinical practice and ultimately the lives of cancer patients," Belcher said. "Our team’s goal is to support patients to achieve better and equitable health outcomes."
Belcher’s research team includes experts from various multi-disciplinary fields spanning nursing, medicine, public health, pharmacy, social work, genetics, and biostatistical and qualitative methodologies, as well as current undergraduate and doctoral nursing students. “I have a fantastic team of interdisciplinary co-investigators and consultants on this grant,” she said. “It’s added a real richness to the way we ask questions and the way we interpret our findings.”
On working with Pitt undergraduate and PhD nursing students, Belcher said, “Throughout my career, I’ve had wonderful mentorship, and now I’m able to pay it forward. It’s really exciting to me to continue to pass down that lineage of mentorship and knowledge.”
About the potential impact to contribute to cancer care more broadly beyond blood cancers, Belcher said, “I’m happy and proud to be doing this work.”
Congratulations, Dr. Belcher!
Read more about the study: https://reporter.nih.gov/search/aR8lWvjIK0GmPICgfwfYXQ/project-details/10942408