Precision medicine educational materials increased awareness in 71.1% and were found helpful by 80.3% of Nigerian breast cancer patients, despite financial barriers.
Do patient educational materials improve awareness and decision-making regarding precision medicine in breast cancer patients in Nigeria?
Patient educational materials significantly improved awareness and decision-making regarding precision medicine among breast cancer patients in Nigeria, though financial barriers to targeted therapies remain.
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Abstract Background Globally, precision medicine (PM) is revolutionizing the treatment of different cancers, including metastatic breast cancer (mBC). However, patient education on PM is largely unknown in Nigeria. The study explored the perspectives of cancer patients on the PM materials and their access to targeted therapies. Methods Participants were (N=147) breast cancer (BC) patients recruited from two cancer support groups in Nigeria. Using a patient engagement approach, From the Testing to Targeted Treatments co-created patient educational materials (PEMs) on “biomarker testing for cancer treatment,” “targeted therapy for cancer,” and “questions to ask your healthcare provider.” The PEMs were adapted and reviewed at Project PINK BLUE. Using a mixed-methods design, 76 of the participants completed an online survey on the usefulness of PEMS, and 71 participated in three focus group discussions on access to targeted therapies. Results The majority of the participants, 71.1% reported an increase in awareness of PM, 80.3% found the materials helpful for making informed decisions, and 90% rated the materials highly for clarity. Themes were: “financial barriers to targeted therapies,” “poor awareness of targeted therapies,” and “lack of access to PEMs.” The qualitative findings showed that some of the cancer patients were taking targeted therapies but were unaware of their treatment. A participant said, “We feel the cost is too high, and even when we have the money, it’s still not affordable." Conclusion Our finding underscores the urgent need to accelerate access to PM for patients in low-resource settings. Citation Format: R. C. Chidebe, O. Akapo, S. C. Ipiankama, O. Uzodinma, S. Bornengo, H. Harnik, I. I. Okoye. Accelerating Access to Precision Medicine in Nigeria through Patient Engagement and Educational Materials abstract. In: Proceedings of the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2025; 2025 Dec 9-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2026;32(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PS4-01-17.
Chidebe et al. (Tue,) reported a other. Precision medicine educational materials increased awareness in 71.1% and were found helpful by 80.3% of Nigerian breast cancer patients, despite financial barriers.