TY - JOUR T1 - Inner conflict in patients receiving oral anticancer agents: a qualitative study JF - BMJ Open JO - BMJ Open DO - 10.1136/bmjopen-2014-006699 VL - 5 IS - 4 SP - e006699 AU - Kaori Yagasaki AU - Hiroko Komatsu AU - Tsunehiro Takahashi Y1 - 2015/04/01 UR - http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/5/4/e006699.abstract N2 - Objectives To explore the experiences of patients receiving oral anticancer agents.Design A qualitative study using semistructured interviews with a grounded theory approach.Setting A university hospital in Japan.Participants 14 patients with gastric cancer who managed their cancer with oral anticancer agents.Results Patients with cancer experienced inner conflict between rational belief and emotional resistance to taking medication due to confrontation with cancer, doubt regarding efficacy and concerns over potential harm attached to use of the agent. Although they perceived themselves as being adherent to medication, they reported partial non-adherent behaviours. The patients reassessed their lives through the experience of inner conflict and, ultimately, they recognised their role in medication therapy.Conclusions Patients with cancer experienced inner conflict, in which considerable emotional resistance to taking their medication affected their occasional non-adherent behaviours. In patient-centred care, it is imperative that healthcare providers understand patients’ inner conflict and inconsistency between their subjective view and behaviour to support patient adherence. ER -