Measurement of compliance

✍ Scribed by Harold P. Roth

• Book ID: 103914750
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1987
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 779 KB
• Volume: 10
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0738-3991
• DOI: 10.1016/0738-3991(87)90092-9

✦ Synopsis

This report is mainly concerned with the relatively simple methods of measuring patient compliance with medical regimens that are readily available. Studies of these methods have defined their strengths and limitations. Patients' reports are usually correct when they say that they are taking little or no medicine, but are commonly over estimates when they say that they are taking their medicine regularly. Physicians usually overestimate their patients' intake of medicine. Reliability in keeping appointments is not a good indication of compliance with other aspects of a medical regimen.

Pill counts provide an indication of medicine intake, but it cannot be presumed that all pills were taken. A medication monitor can indicate when as well as whether medication was removed from a container. Levels of a medication or its metabolites in blood or urine usually provide a reasonably good indication of amount of medicine taken. Clinical responses or side effects can be indications that medicine was taken but can also have other bases. Urine and blood levels are the best available measures of medicine intake. Pill counts are simpler to perform but less reliable.