# Improving Adherence and Symptom Management for Breast Cancer Survivors on Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy

> **NIH NIH K07** · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · 2020 · $54,000

## Abstract

Candidate. This K07 supplement will position Dr. Jacobs to continue towards independence as an investigator
with expertise in developing and testing evidence-based interventions to improve patient and treatment-related
outcomes across the cancer care continuum. Dr. Jacobs demonstrates promise as a clinical researcher, with
substantial progress on her K07 thus far, and with additional training and mentorship will contribute to national
and international efforts to reduce cancer burden and improve quality of life for survivors. Mentorship. The
mentor team is comprised of internationally recognized investigators in supportive cancer interventions and
health outcomes research (mentor: Jennifer Temel, MD), and treatment adherence in oncology and longitudinal
adherence assessment (co-mentor: Joseph Greer, PhD). A scientific advisory committee with complementary
expertise continues to provide guidance on: endocrine therapy (ET) and adherence in breast cancer survivors
([BCS] Ann Partridge, MD, MPH); survivorship and research ethics (Jeffrey Peppercorn, MD, MPH); mixed
methods and qualitative analysis (Elyse Park, PhD, MPH); adherence intervention development (Steven Safren,
PhD); and biostatistics (Nora Horick, MS). Training Plan. Dr. Jacobs will continue to achieve short-term goals
through her coordinated research and training plan in (1) medical issues in ET and adherence for BCS, (2)
adherence intervention development/health behavior change and e-counseling/telehealth, and (3) mixed
methods and longitudinal adherence assessment. In addition to regular mentorship meetings and experiential
training through the research plan, Dr. Jacobs will complete coursework and didactic trainings, attend and
present at seminars and national conferences, and publish findings in peer-reviewed journals. Background. The
majority of breast cancer is hormone sensitive and treated with 10 years of ET in order to reduce risk of
recurrence and improve survival; however, adherence to ET among BCS is overwhelmingly poor, with half of
women being non-adherent within five years. Furthermore, distressed BCS (e.g., related to side effects) are less
likely to be adherent. There is an absence of efficacious interventions to improve ET adherence. Research
Strategy. To address this gap, the study employs a mixed methods design to develop and test a
videoconference, psychosocial intervention to improve adherence to ET, enhance symptom management, and
reduce distress in BCS at Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center. Phase 1 included (1) intervention
development with psychologists and oncology clinicians and semi-structured interviews with BCS (n=30), and
(2) a pilot study to evaluate acceptability and refine the intervention (n=5). Phase 2 currently entails a pilot
randomized controlled trial (n=75) to assess the feasibility of comparing the videoconference psychosocial
intervention to a medication monitoring control on adherence outcomes over 6 months. This K07 lays the
groundwor...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10128100
- **Project number:** 3K07CA211107-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Jamie Michele Jacobs
- **Activity code:** K07 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $54,000
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2017-08-01 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10128100

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10128100, Improving Adherence and Symptom Management for Breast Cancer Survivors on Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy (3K07CA211107-03S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10128100. Licensed CC0.

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