Issues in Medication Compliance Research

Authors

  • Celia Oseasohn
  • Elaine Graveley
  • Nancy C. Hudepohl

Abstract

Drug noncompliance poses a serious threat to the health of patients and to their financial well-being. Since Schwartz and her colleagues (1962) undertook their classic study of medication compliance among elderly patients, finding that 59% of them were making medication errors, researchers have been interested in studying this problem. A review of the literature indicates that, although there has been a considerable amount of research in this area, the prevalence of noncompliance persists. Estimates of non-compliance range from 15% to 93% (Brand & Smith, 1974; Martin & Coats, 1987; Robertson, 1985). The consequences of noncompliance are multifaceted. From a research standpoint, noncompliance clouds the efficacy of therapy and compromises the generalizability of clinical studies. For the patients, noncompliance may diminish the benefits of preventive or curative services. Additionally, it may foster both unnecessary diagnostic studies and treatments; this increases the cost and health risks to patients (Becker, 1985; Carey, 1984).

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Published

1989-04-13

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Articles