1c:I[776865,["/_next/static/chunks/bb923814e1f4d2e9.js","/_next/static/chunks/dd3ee9f5b7716ca6.js","/_next/static/chunks/4204a0ae82542ca8.js","/_next/static/chunks/1270dead247da766.js","/_next/static/chunks/6e1aa89a642f40be.js","/_next/static/chunks/2d7aa753e81324a8.js","/_next/static/chunks/8ffd0b71567920d8.js","/_next/static/chunks/67ea6dfd21f16c5f.js","/_next/static/chunks/24eb4379f68013fd.js","/_next/static/chunks/b8cd775ffdf935bd.js","/_next/static/chunks/983103cd9eb7b428.js","/_next/static/chunks/263f2cdcb9aa2341.js","/_next/static/chunks/294b9525248c8e5f.js"],"Grid"] 1d:I[617291,["/_next/static/chunks/bb923814e1f4d2e9.js","/_next/static/chunks/dd3ee9f5b7716ca6.js","/_next/static/chunks/4204a0ae82542ca8.js","/_next/static/chunks/1270dead247da766.js","/_next/static/chunks/6e1aa89a642f40be.js","/_next/static/chunks/2d7aa753e81324a8.js","/_next/static/chunks/8ffd0b71567920d8.js","/_next/static/chunks/67ea6dfd21f16c5f.js","/_next/static/chunks/24eb4379f68013fd.js","/_next/static/chunks/b8cd775ffdf935bd.js","/_next/static/chunks/983103cd9eb7b428.js","/_next/static/chunks/263f2cdcb9aa2341.js","/_next/static/chunks/294b9525248c8e5f.js"],"GridCol"] 1e:I[419806,["/_next/static/chunks/bb923814e1f4d2e9.js","/_next/static/chunks/dd3ee9f5b7716ca6.js","/_next/static/chunks/4204a0ae82542ca8.js","/_next/static/chunks/1270dead247da766.js","/_next/static/chunks/6e1aa89a642f40be.js","/_next/static/chunks/2d7aa753e81324a8.js","/_next/static/chunks/8ffd0b71567920d8.js","/_next/static/chunks/67ea6dfd21f16c5f.js","/_next/static/chunks/24eb4379f68013fd.js","/_next/static/chunks/b8cd775ffdf935bd.js","/_next/static/chunks/983103cd9eb7b428.js","/_next/static/chunks/263f2cdcb9aa2341.js","/_next/static/chunks/294b9525248c8e5f.js"],"default"] 1f:T44e,The evaluation of the efficacy of medication is confounded when patients do not adhere to prescribed regimens. Overdosing, underdosing, and erratic dosing intervals can diminish drug action or cause adverse effects. Using a new method with epilepsy as a model, we assessed compliance with long-term medications among newly treated and long-term patients. Medication Event Monitor Systems (Aprex Corporation, Fremont, Calif) are standard pill bottles with micro-processors in the cap to record every bottle opening as a presumptive dose. Compliance rates averaged 76% during 3428 days observed: 87% of the once daily, 81% of the twice daily, 77% of the three times a day, and 39% of the four times a day dosages were taken as prescribed. Coefficients of variation of drug serum concentrations had no significant relationship to compliance rates. Pill counts overestimated compliance increasingly as compliance with the prescribed regimen declined. Neither drug serum concentrations nor pill counts would have identified the frequency of missed doses that were revealed with continuous dose observations.20:T449,

CLINICAL SCENARIOS

Case 1

A 28-year-old woman presents to the emergency department in acute distress with a 3-day history of worsening asthma. Her prescribed medications include an inhaled β₂-agonist and an inhaled steroid. When questioned, she breathlessly admits to "occasionally" missing her medications but indicates that this is "maybe only once or twice."

Case 2

A 55-year-old man with posttraumatic seizure disorder has been taking phenytoin since his injury. His seizures were initially adequately controlled but he recently has been having weekly seizures. In an office visit he resentfully denies missing any of his medication.

THE IMPORTANCE OF CLINICAL EXAMINATION

Physicians should measure compliance for patients prescribed a self-administered treatment because noncompliance is common and physicians can help patients to improve their compliance^1,2and increase the benefit they derive from therapy. Compliance with long-term self-administered medication therapy is approximately 50% for those who remain in care.³21:T450,Log in or Register Subscribe to journalSubscribe Get new issue alertsGet alerts Enter your Email address: Wolters Kluwer Hea

	Year	Citations

Abstract

References