Path Model of Multidimensional Compliance With Cancer Therapy

92 patients (aged 18–86 yrs) newly diagnosed with hematologic malignancies were followed for 6 mo to assess compliance with 3 regimen requirements for cancer therapy: antineoplastic medication self-administered intermittently, supportive medication self-administered daily, and monthly clinic appointments. The effect on compliance of 3 intervention packages (some combination of education, pill-taking behavior, and home restructuring) and the extent that patient satisfaction, knowledge, and uncertainty about illness-related events mediated the effects of the interventions were also examined. Compliance with daily pill taking and clinic appointments was higher for each intervention group compared to a control group. Daily pill taking was influenced directly by the behavioral components of the interventions. Uncertainty was associated with depression, which was negatively correlated with intermittent self-medication