Biomaterial Database

Detection methods and strategies for improving medication compliance. 1991

W S Bond, and D A Hussar

Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacy Administration, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science, PA 19104.

The reliability of compliance detection methods and practical strategies for improving patient compliance with drug therapy are reviewed. Detection of noncompliance is a necessary prerequisite for adequate treatment. Noncompliance can be detected by indirect methods (e.g., self-report, interview, therapeutic outcome, pill count, computerized compliance monitors) or direct methods (e.g., biologic markers, tracer compounds, biologic assay of body fluids). In general, the direct methods of detection have a higher sensitivity and specificity than the indirect methods. Computerized compliance monitors are the most recent and reliable of the indirect-detection methods. Strategies for improving compliance involve identification of risk factors for non-compliance; development, with the patient's participation, of an individualized treatment plan that simplifies the regimen as much as possible; education of the patient, including information about his or her illness, instructions on how to take the prescribed medication correctly, and an explanation of the benefits and possible adverse effects of the therapy; and, if necessary, use of compliance aids such as medication calendars, special containers, caps, and dispensing systems, or compliance packaging. The patient should be taught to monitor his or her own treatment regimen. Follow-up monitoring by health-care professionals, including pharmacists, will also help ensure that the patient is complying with the treatment regimen. Health-care practitioners need to understand factors that contribute to noncompliance and to use effective methods for assessing and monitoring compliance in conjunction with strategies aimed at increasing compliant behavior.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007407	Interviews as Topic	Works about conversations with an individual or individuals held in order to obtain information about their background and other personal biographical data, their attitudes and opinions, etc. It includes works about school admission or job interviews.	Group Interviews,Interviewers,Interviews, Telephone,Oral History as Topic,Group Interview,Interview, Group,Interview, Telephone,Interviewer,Interviews, Group,Telephone Interview,Telephone Interviews
D010349	Patient Compliance	Voluntary cooperation of the patient in following a prescribed regimen.	Client Adherence,Client Compliance,Non-Adherent Patient,Patient Adherence,Patient Cooperation,Patient Noncompliance,Patient Non-Adherence,Patient Non-Compliance,Patient Nonadherence,Therapeutic Compliance,Treatment Compliance,Adherence, Client,Adherence, Patient,Client Compliances,Compliance, Client,Compliance, Patient,Compliance, Therapeutic,Compliance, Treatment,Cooperation, Patient,Non Adherent Patient,Non-Adherence, Patient,Non-Adherent Patients,Non-Compliance, Patient,Nonadherence, Patient,Noncompliance, Patient,Patient Non Adherence,Patient Non Compliance,Patient, Non-Adherent,Therapeutic Compliances,Treatment Compliances
D010353	Patient Education as Topic	The teaching or training of patients concerning their own health needs.	Education of Patients,Education, Patient,Patient Education
D004348	Drug Labeling	Use of written, printed, or graphic materials upon or accompanying a drug container or wrapper. It includes contents, indications, effects, dosages, routes, methods, frequency and duration of administration, warnings, hazards, contraindications, side effects, precautions, and other relevant information.	Labeling, Drug,Package Inserts, Drug,Product Labeling, Drug,Black Box Warning,Boxed Warning,Drug Labelling,Black Box Warnings,Box Warning, Black,Box Warnings, Black,Boxed Warnings,Drug Package Insert,Drug Package Inserts,Drug Product Labeling,Insert, Drug Package,Inserts, Drug Package,Labeling, Drug Product,Labelling, Drug,Package Insert, Drug,Warning, Black Box,Warning, Boxed,Warnings, Black Box,Warnings, Boxed
D004349	Drug Packaging	Containers, packaging, and packaging materials for drugs and BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS. These include those in ampule, capsule, tablet, solution or other forms. Packaging includes immediate-containers, secondary-containers, and cartons. In the United States, such packaging is controlled under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act which also stipulates requirements for tamper-resistance and child-resistance. Similar laws govern use elsewhere. (From Code of Federal Regulations, 21 CFR 1 Section 210, 1993) DRUG LABELING is also available.	Drug Containers and Closures,Packaging, Drug,Drug Containers,Container, Drug,Containers, Drug,Drug Container,Drug Packagings,Packagings, Drug
D004358	Drug Therapy	The use of DRUGS to treat a DISEASE or its symptoms. One example is the use of ANTINEOPLASTIC AGENTS to treat CANCER.	Chemotherapy,Pharmacotherapy,Therapy, Drug,Chemotherapies,Drug Therapies,Pharmacotherapies,Therapies, Drug
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012650	Self Disclosure	A willingness to reveal information about oneself to others.	Disclosure, Self,Disclosures, Self,Self Disclosures
D015415	Biomarkers	Measurable and quantifiable biological parameters (e.g., specific enzyme concentration, specific hormone concentration, specific gene phenotype distribution in a population, presence of biological substances) which serve as indices for health- and physiology-related assessments, such as disease risk, psychiatric disorders, ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE and its effects, disease diagnosis; METABOLIC PROCESSES; SUBSTANCE ABUSE; PREGNANCY; cell line development; EPIDEMIOLOGIC STUDIES; etc.	Biochemical Markers,Biological Markers,Biomarker,Clinical Markers,Immunologic Markers,Laboratory Markers,Markers, Biochemical,Markers, Biological,Markers, Clinical,Markers, Immunologic,Markers, Laboratory,Markers, Serum,Markers, Surrogate,Markers, Viral,Serum Markers,Surrogate Markers,Viral Markers,Biochemical Marker,Biologic Marker,Biologic Markers,Clinical Marker,Immune Marker,Immune Markers,Immunologic Marker,Laboratory Marker,Marker, Biochemical,Marker, Biological,Marker, Clinical,Marker, Immunologic,Marker, Laboratory,Marker, Serum,Marker, Surrogate,Serum Marker,Surrogate End Point,Surrogate End Points,Surrogate Endpoint,Surrogate Endpoints,Surrogate Marker,Viral Marker,Biological Marker,End Point, Surrogate,End Points, Surrogate,Endpoint, Surrogate,Endpoints, Surrogate,Marker, Biologic,Marker, Immune,Marker, Viral,Markers, Biologic,Markers, Immune
D016312	Treatment Refusal	Patient or client refusal of or resistance to medical, psychological, or psychiatric treatment. (APA, Thesaurus of Psychological Index Terms, 8th ed.)	Avoidance of Health Care,Avoidance of Healthcare,Avoided Health Care,Avoided Healthcare,Health Care Avoidance,Healthcare Avoidance,Patient Refusal of Treatment,Refusal of Treatment,Anesthesia Refusal,Patient Elopement,Anesthesia Refusals,Elopement, Patient,Refusal, Anesthesia,Refusals, Anesthesia,Treatment Refusals