TABLE II.

Factors affecting compliance to adjuvant endocrine therapy

Patient-related factors	Treatment-related factors	Health care provider–related factors
Remembering to take medication (older and younger age groups associated with non-adherence) Depression Antidepressant use Mastectomy Lack of belief in treatment Poor awareness of therapeutic benefit Inconvenience Difficulty swallowing pills	Drug adverse effects Side effects may be underestimated by physician Unexpected effects associated with non-adherence	Importance of adherence may not be emphasized Potential difficulties of long-term adherence may not be discussed Lack of patient support in dealing with side effects Patient may not be satisfied with health care provider