Practical issues in medication compliance

Prevalence and predictors of poor medication adherence among out-patients at a psychiatric hospital in Benin City, Nigeria

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence and predictors of poor or non-compliance with medications among respondents attending an adult psychiatry out-patient clinic in Benin City, Nigeria.

METHODS

Respondents (n = 137) were randomly selected over a 3-month period using a cross-sectional study design. They were administered a questionnaire adapting the Factors Influencing Neuroleptic Medication Taking Scale as well as the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) to ascertain medication, illness-related and psychosocial variables. Medication adherence was determined by self report and for the purpose of the study confined to the week prior to interview.

RESULTS

Almost half (42.3%) were poorly adherent to medications. Most admitted to good psychosocial support, but believed that their illness had a spiritual aetiology. Stigma, higher frequency of medication dosing as well as illness severity as measured by their BPRS scores were significant predictors of poor medication adherence.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of poor medication adherence in this environment is higher than in studies from Western cultures, and replicates rates from previously published reports in this environment. Factors responsible for poor adherence can form the template for intervention studies and programs to improve compliance.

Evaluation of medication adherence methods in the treatment of malaria in Rwandan infants

Objectives

To compare three methods for evaluating treatment adherence in a 7-day controlled treatment period for malaria in children in Rwanda.

Methods

Fifty-six children (< 5 years) with malaria were recruited at the University Hospital of Butare, Rwanda. Patients were treated with quinine sulfate, taste-masked, pellets during seven days: three days in hospital (in-patient) followed by a four-day out-patient period. Three methods to evaluate medication adherence among patients were compared: manual pill count of returned tablets, patient self-report and electronic pill-box monitoring. These pill-boxes were equipped with a microchip registering date and time of every opening. Medication adherence was defined as the proportion of prescribed doses taken. The inter-dose intervals were analysed as well.

Results

Medication adherence data were available for 54 of the 56 patients. Manual pill count and patient self-report yielded a medication adherence of 100% for the in- and out-patient treatment periods. Based on electronic pill-box monitoring, medication adherence during the seven-day treatment period was 90.5 ± 8.3%. Based on electronic pill-box monitoring inpatient medication adherence (99.3 ± 2.7%) was markedly higher (p < 0.03) than out-patient adherence (82.7 ± 14.7%), showing a clear difference between health workers' and consumers' medication adherence.

Conclusion

Health workers' medication adherence was good. However, a significant lower medication adherence was observed for consumers' adherence in the outpatient setting. This was only detected by electronic pill-box monitoring. Therefore, this latter method is more accurate than the two other methods used in this study.

Persistence with bisphosphonate treatment for osteoporosis: finding the root of the problem

Poor compliance and persistence are among the most significant reasons for failed pharmacotherapy encountered in clinical practice. Consequences of poor compliance range from minor to serious, depending on drug characteristics, disease state, and severity of disease. Compliance and persistence are particular problems for patients with a disorder such as osteoporosis, which remains asymptomatic for long periods. Poor compliance with bisphosphonate therapy for osteoporosis has been associated with a smaller decrease in the rate of bone turnover and smaller improvements in bone mineral density, and may potentially result in a higher risk of fracture and disability. The compliance problem is additive; complex dosing guidelines may contribute to poor compliance with therapy, and the failure to follow these guidelines may result in treatment-related adverse events that further reduce compliance. In the long term, these issues often result in nonpersistence with treatment. In addition to direct consequences for the patient, poor compliance is associated with significant healthcare costs. Studies suggest that less-frequent dosing regimens improve compliance; however, even among patients receiving weekly bisphosphonates, persistence may remain suboptimal. Several strategies are available to improve compliance and persistence with osteoporosis therapies. Good communication between the healthcare provider and the patient--with continuous reinforcement of the importance of treatment--is a key approach to improving persistence. Patients should receive feedback to confirm that their treatment is having an effect, and individualized reminder systems should be recommended to help the patient adhere to the treatment plan. Potentially, every patient is liable to discontinue treatment even after a long period of regular dosing. It should be assumed that every patient receiving therapy for osteoporosis needs regular reinforcement of the importance of continuing therapy.

Psychosocial profiling: a holistic management tool for non-compliance*

We introduce a new concept of psychosocial profiling as a tool that provides the transplant team with a psychosocial framework for identification, intervention and management of non-compliance. This will also increase our understanding of emotional problems experienced by patients before transplant, as a result of living with the uncertainty and medical side effects of chronic illness. Psychosocial profiling is adaptable throughout the transplant process and gives every patient an opportunity of psychosocial support to help him or her into a position of emotional stability and compliance with their medications and postoperative care. Implementation of this strategy will move health care professionals from being gatekeepers to managers and facilitators of holistic care in recipients of transplants.

Adherence to pharmacotherapy in patients with alcohol and opioid dependence

AIMS

An important factor that has thus far limited the effectiveness of pharmacotherapies for patients with alcohol and opioid dependence is poor adherence to medication regimens. This paper presents a review of issues related to medication adherence in patients with these substance use disorders.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A literature review was conducted of English language publications relating to medication adherence among patients with alcohol or opioid dependence.

FINDINGS

The paper places the topic in the context of adherence difficulties among patients with a variety of chronic medical and psychiatric illnesses. Difficulties measuring adherence are discussed, and strategies to improve medication adherence are reviewed. These include specific interventions that prescribing clinicians can implement in their individual meetings with patients; the use of external reinforcers, such as positive and negative contingencies, and involvement of family members or significant others; and specific prescribing and dosing practices that may improve adherence.

CONCLUSIONS

As the use of pharmacotherapy for substance-dependent patients increases, rigorous and innovative approaches to encourage medication adherence should be sought.

LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF TRANSPLANTATION ON QUALITY OF LIFE

Identifying predictors of noncompliance and initiating preventive strategies, including education and support services, can lessen the occurrence of noncompliance. Selection of immunosuppression protocols that involve fewer adverse effects and fewer medications can help increase patient satisfaction, improve compliance, maintain graft function, and enrich the long-term quality of life for transplant recipients.

Mismanaging the gift of life: noncompliance in the context of adult stem cell transplantation

In this paper, we address the issue of noncompliance with medical regimens in adult stem cell transplant patients. We review the definition, prevalence, and consequences of noncompliance and address whether or not we should alter our medical decision-making with regard to stem cell transplantation based on patient noncompliance. We discuss how the health care team should handle noncompliance issues and propose clinical guidelines for stem cell transplant programs to consider regarding evaluation and management of medical compliance.

Noncompliance in organ transplant recipients: a literature review

The consequences of failing to comply to doctor's instructions can be damaging and devastating for the individual patient and their family. Noncompliance also leads to waste, as it reduces the potential benefits of therapy, and to the extra cost of treating avoidable consequent morbidity. Life-long immunosuppression is a prerequisite for good graft function, and noncompliance is often associated with late acute rejection episodes, graft loss, and death. It might be assumed that transplant patients constitute a highly motivated group, and that compliance would be high. Unfortunately, this is not the case: overall noncompliance rates vary from 20 to 50%. This overview includes literature on heart, liver, and kidney transplants in adult and pediatric transplant patients. Compliance behavior after transplantation, noncompliance and its relationship to organ loss and death, retransplantation outcome after graft loss due to noncompliance, and reasons for postoperative noncompliance will be addressed.