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Results for “Medication Adherence”

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PubMed2006

Treatment adherence among patients with bipolar or manic disorder taking atypical and typical antipsychotics.

OBJECTIVE: This retrospective claims-based study evaluated treatment adherence among patients with bipolar or manic disorder treated with atypical and typical antipsychotics. METHOD: Claims data for 18,158 antipsychotic treatment episodes in 15,224 commercially insured patients with bipolar or manic disorder (ICD-9-CM criteria), from January 1999 through August 2003, were evaluated. Overall adherence was measured by adherence intensity (medication possession ratio) and treatment duration (length of treatment episodes). Treatment-related factors that may affect medication adherence were also investigated. Pairwise comparisons of the individual atypicals and a combined group of leading typical antipsychotics were undertaken using multiple regression analysis adjusting for differing patient characteristics. RESULTS: Adherence intensity with quetiapine was 3% greater than with the typicals combined (p=.002) and was greater than with risperidone or olanzapine by 4% (p<.001) and 2% (p=.001), respectively. Olanzapine (2%, p<.001) and ziprasidone (3%, p=.001) showed significantly greater adherence intensity than risperidone. Risperidone (p=.002), olanzapine (p=.055), and the typicals (p=.021) demonstrated negative associations between dose and adherence intensity, while quetiapine showed a nonsignificant trend for a positive association (p=.074). Quetiapine and risperidone had significantly longer treatment durations than the typicals combined (1.05 and 1.00 months, respectively, p<.001) and longer treatment durations than olanzapine (0.75 and 0.79 months, respectively, p<.001) or ziprasidone (0.78 months, p=.002 and 0.69 months, p=.003, respectively). Shorter treatment durations were associated with switching to other antipsychotics or remaining on or switching to other psychotropics (e.g., traditional mood stabilizers) only. All of the atypicals except ziprasidone were associated with a significantly lower likelihood of switching compared with the typicals (p<.05). CONCLUSIONS: The claims-based findings of this study suggest that, for bipolar or manic disorder, quetiapine therapy may be associated with better treatment adherence than typical or some atypical antipsychotics. Estimated differences, however, were relatively small, particularly for adherence intensity.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Psychosocial interventions for bipolar disorder.

Patients with bipolar disorder are prone to recurrences even when they are maintained on lithium or anticonvulsant regimens. The authors argue that the outpatient treatment of bipolar disorder should involve both somatic and psychosocial components. Psychosocial interventions can enhance patients' adherence to medications, ability to cope with environmental stress triggers, and social-occupational functioning. Family and marital psychoeducational interventions and individual interpersonal and social rhythm therapy have received the most empirical support in experimental trials. These interventions, when combined with medications, appear effective in improving symptomatic functioning during maintenance treatment. A beginning literature also supports the utility of individual cognitive-behavioral and psychoeducational approaches, particularly in enhancing medication adherence. Identifying the optimal format for psychosocial treatments and elucidating their mechanisms of action are topics for further study.

Ambulatory Care↗

PubMed1998

Adherence to antiretroviral and pneumocystis prophylaxis in HIV disease.

BACKGROUND: Medication nonadherence in the treatment of chronic diseases compromises the effectiveness of therapy. Little information is available about the extent of medication adherence or determinants of medication adherence in HIV disease, an issue of increasing importance in this new therapeutic era of combination antiretroviral therapy. METHODS: We studied 244 HIV-infected Medicaid-insured patients attending an HIV hospital-based clinic regarding the extent of and predictors of adherence to antiretroviral therapy and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) prophylaxis. Patients were asked to report medications being taken, patterns of use, and knowledge and attitudes about HIV therapies. Medical record report of type, dose, and frequency of medication was compared with self-report using the kappa statistic. Urine sulfamethoxazole assay was obtained from patients prescribed sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim. RESULTS: Among patients prescribed antiretroviral therapy, 60% reported > or = 80% adherence in the previous 7 days; 49% reported > or = 80% adherence with PCP prophylaxis in the previous seven days. Seventy-nine percent of patients who reported taking daily sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim had detectable urinary sulfamethoxazole. In multivariate analysis, > or = 80% adherence to antiretroviral therapy was associated with taking medication < or = twice a day (odds ratio [OR]=1.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01, 1.96), being likely to take medication when not at home, (OR=1.41; 95% CI, 1.04, 2.00) and patients' belief in their ability to adhere to therapy (OR=1.57; 95% CI, 1.13, 2.17). For PCP prophylaxis, > or = 80% adherence was associated with presence of family (OR=2.39; 95% CI, 1.01, 5.63) and patients' belief in their ability to adhere to therapy (OR=2.87; 95% CI, 1.44-1.78). Sociodemographic characteristics and belief in the efficacy of medications were not associated with adherence. CONCLUSIONS: A relatively low level of adherence to antiretroviral therapy and PCP prophylactic regimens was found. Although our results are principally from patients receiving antiretroviral monotherapy, these findings may have important implications for patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Decreasing the complexity of antiretroviral regimens, and working with patients to modify identified barriers to adherence may improve effectiveness of medications and prolong survival.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

PubMed2005

Predicting medical regimen adherence: the interactions of health locus of control beliefs.

The present study examined the interactions between five dimensions of health locus of control beliefs and their relationships with medical regimen adherence in low-income individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. One hundred and nine patients were administered an expanded Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC) scale. HbA1c was used as a biological indicator of medical regimen adherence. Multivariate regression analyses demonstrated that three interactions were significantly related to HbA1c. The present findings suggest that HLOC may be meaningfully related to medical outcomes. However, these relationships may not be captured through the examination of main effects and may be only found when interactions are considered.

Culture↗

PubMed2006

Intentional and unintentional medication non-adherence: a comprehensive framework for clinical research and practice? A discussion paper.

Non-adherence to medications is a prevalent and persistent healthcare problem, particularly for patients with a chronic disorder. Researchers have endeavoured to address poor adherence for the past five decades resulting in the accumulation of a vast body of literature. Despite the enormity of research conducted, interventions to date have neither been cost-effective nor predictably clinically effective in enhancing medication adherence. Though concerning, such contemporary information serves to refocus attention on the adequacy of knowledge regarding the factors influencing medication non-adherence. Although little consensus exists regarding the optimal categorisation of these influencing factors, increasingly, the broad and 'all encompassing' categorisation of intentional and unintentional factors is being used to account for patient medication-taking behaviours and actions. An extensive review of the related literature provides the basis for a critical discussion on the value and comprehensiveness of this current classification in guiding future adherence research and consequent clinical interventions. An appraisal of this categorisation is important if decisions regarding interventions are not to be made in a vacuum of insufficient understanding, which would result in the continued ineffective use and distribution of valuable resources to combat non-adherence.

Chronic Disease↗

PubMed2006

Home visits to improve adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Few rigorously designed studies have documented the efficacy of interventions to improve medication adherence among patients prescribed highly active antiretroviral. Data are needed to justify the use of limited resources for these programs. METHODS: A 2-arm, randomized, controlled trial evaluated the efficacy of a community-based, home-visit intervention to improve medication adherence. Participants were 171 HIV-infected adults prescribed a minimum of 3 antiretroviral agents. The majority had a past or current history of substance abuse. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive home visits for 1 year or usual care. Medication adherence was assessed with Medication Event Monitoring stem caps at 3-month intervals from randomization through 3 months after the conclusion of the intervention. RESULTS: A larger proportion of subjects in the intervention group demonstrated adherence greater than 90% compared with the control group at each time point after baseline. The difference over time was statistically significant (Extended Mantel-Haenszel test: 5.80, P = 0.02). A statistically significant intervention effect on HIV-RNA level or CD4 cell count was not seen, but there was a statistically significant association between greater than 90% adherence and an undetectable HIV-RNA over time (P < 0.03). CONCLUSION: Home visits from a nurse and a community worker were associated with medication adherence greater than 90% among a cohort of socially vulnerable people living with HIV/AIDS in northeastern United States.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Maternal depressive symptoms and adherence to therapy in inner-city children with asthma.

CONTEXT: Little is known about how depressive symptoms in mothers affects illness management in inner-city children with asthma. OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to determine how maternal depressive symptoms influence child medication adherence, impact of the child's asthma on the mother, and maternal attitudes and beliefs. METHODS: Baseline and 6-month surveys were administered to 177 mothers of young minority children with asthma in inner-city Baltimore, MD and Washington, DC. Medication adherence, disruptiveness of asthma, and select attitudes toward illness and asthma therapy were measured. Six-month data (N = 158) were used to prospectively evaluate long-term symptom control and emergency department use. Independent variables included asthma morbidity, age, depressive symptoms, and other psychosocial data. RESULTS: No difference in child asthma morbidity was observed between mothers high and low in depressive symptoms. However, mothers with high depressive symptoms reported significantly more problems with their child using inhalers properly (odds ratio [OR]: 5.0; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.3-18.9) and forgetting doses (OR: 4.2; 95% CI: 1.4-12.4). Depressive symptoms were also associated with greater emotional distress and interference with daily activities caused by the child's asthma, along with less confidence in asthma medications, ability to control asthma symptoms, and self-efficacy to cope with acute asthma episodes. In addition, depressed mothers reported less understanding about their child's medications and use (OR: 7.7; 95% CI: 1.7-35.9). Baseline asthma morbidity, maternal depression scores, and family income were independently associated with asthma symptoms 6 months later, whereas medication adherence was not predictive of subsequent asthma morbidity or emergency department use. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal depressive symptoms were not associated with child asthma morbidity but were associated with a constellation of beliefs and attitudes that may significantly influence adherence to asthma medications and illness management. Identifying and addressing poor psychological adjustment in mothers is important when developing a child's asthma treatment and may facilitate parent-provider communication, medication adherence, and asthma management among inner-city children.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Adherence to medication regimens and participation in dual-focus self-help groups.

OBJECTIVE: The authors examined the associations between attendance at self-help meetings, adherence to psychiatric medication regimens, and mental health outcomes among members of a 12-step self-help organization specifically designed for persons with both chronic mental illness and a substance use disorder. METHODS: A sample of members of Double Trouble in Recovery (DTR) was interviewed at baseline and one year later. Correlates of adherence to psychiatric medication regimens at the follow-up interview were identified for 240 attendees who had received a prescription for a psychiatric medication. RESULTS: Consistent attendance at DTR meetings was associated with better adherence to medication regimens after baseline variables that were independently associated with adherence were controlled for. Three baseline variables were associated with adherence: living in supported housing, having fewer stressful life events, and having a lower severity of psychiatric symptoms. In addition, better adherence was associated with a lower severity of symptoms at one year and no psychiatric hospitalization during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment programs and clinicians should encourage patients who have both mental illness and a substance use disorder to participate in dual-focus self-help groups that encourage the responsible use of effective psychiatric medication, particularly after discharge to community living. Clinicians also should be sensitive to stressful life events and discuss with patients how such events might affect their motivation or ability to continue taking medication.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Self-reported adherence to treatment with mood stabilizers, plasma levels, and psychiatric hospitalization.

OBJECTIVE: The authors explored the relationship of adherence to treatment with mood stabilizers (lithium, carbamazepine, and sodium valproate) and plasma levels of these drugs to future psychiatric hospitalizations. METHOD: They prospectively followed 98 patients with mood disorders who were prescribed mood stabilizers. These patients participated in an initial interview and completed a questionnaire regarding their adherence to the medications. Data on their plasma levels of these drugs were taken from assays done in the 3 months before the interview. RESULTS: Six of the 98 patients were not classified as to medication adherence or plasma levels. Twenty-nine (32%) of the remaining patients reported partial adherence to the medication regimen, and 33 (36%) had an index plasma level that was suboptimal. At 18 months, rates of admission to a psychiatric hospital were significantly higher in the 16 partially adherent patients with subtherapeutic plasma levels (N=13, 81%) than in the 46 adherent patients with therapeutic plasma levels (N=4, 9%). However, hospital admission was also more likely in partially adherent patients with therapeutic plasma levels than in adherent patients with subtherapeutic plasma levels. CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to medication regimens may be a proxy measure of other healthy behaviors.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Antecedents of adherence to medical recommendations: results from the Medical Outcomes Study.

A longitudinal study of patients with chronic medical diseases (hypertension, diabetes, heart disease) was conducted to identify antecedents of adherence to medical recommendations. Data are from 1198 patients in three health-care provision systems in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Boston. Nonadherence at the beginning of the study was the strongest predictor of nonadherence 2 years later. Other significant predictors varied by type of adherence outcome. Patients who were younger and who relied upon avoidant coping strategies tended to be less likely to follow their doctor's specific recommendations. Patients who were distressed about their health, used avoidant coping strategies, or who reported worse physical and role functioning were less likely to adhere in general. Patient satisfaction with two features of care (interpersonal quality and financial aspects) was positively related to adherence in some models, but satisfaction with the technical quality of care was negatively associated with adherence to specific recommendations among heart disease patients. Social support contributed to specific adherence among diabetic patients. Implications of the study for medical care providers are discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2006

Impact of statin copayments on adherence and medical care utilization and expenditures.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of statin cost-sharing (ie, copayments, coinsurance) on adherence to statin medications and the impact of adherence on healthcare utilization and spending. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective, observational study of statin users receiving health benefits or supplemental coverage from employer-sponsored health plans. METHODS: Medical and pharmacy claims were selected from the Medstat MarketScan database for patients who were continuously enrolled from 2000 through 2003. Two-stage residual inclusion models were estimated. The first stage modeled adherence to statins, which was derived from the medication possession ratio, and represented the percentage of days on therapy in an 18-month time frame, July 2001 through December 2002. In the second stage, generalized linear models were used to estimate 2003 utilization and expenditures. Separate estimates were produced for new statin users (n = 24 113) and continuing statin users (n = 93 253). RESULTS: Lower statin copayments were associated with higher levels of statin adherence. In percentage terms, when holding all other variables at their mean value, a $10 increase in copayment resulted in a 1.8 percentage point reduction in the probability of adherence for new users and a 3 percentage point reduction in the probability of adherence for continuing users. For continuing users adherent to statins, total costs did not change, but fewer negative events (emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and coronary heart disease-related hospitalizations) occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Policy makers and plan managers should consider interventions that improve adherence to statins, such as lower copayments.

Aged↗

PubMed2000

Assessment of psychological factors associated with adherence to medication regimens among adult patients with asthma.

Nonadherence with asthma medications is a significant problem associated with unnecessary functional limitations. The development of measures to assess psychological factors important to adherence with medication regimens among adult patients with asthma is described in the present report. The results indicated that the reliability and validity of the newly designed measures were adequate. Patients that did not perceive a need to take their medications as prescribed or those already taking their medications as prescribed had better pulmonary function. The results are discussed in terms of their implications for future studies, such as motivational interventions to enhance adherence with asthma medications.

Administration, Inhalation↗

PubMed2004

Social support, positive states of mind, and HIV treatment adherence in men and women living with HIV/AIDS.

Numerous studies have linked social support to better medication adherence among illness groups, but few have examined potential mechanisms for this relationship. Relationships were examined between social support, depression, positive states of mind (PSOM), and medication adherence among HIV positive men who have sex with men (n = 61) and women (n = 29) on highly active antiretroviral therapy. Depression and PSOM were evaluated as potential mediators of the relationship between support and adherence. Cross-sectional data showed that greater social support and PSOM related to better adherence whereas higher depression scores related to nonadherence. PSOM partially mediated the relationship between social support and adherence. PSOM may be an important mechanism through which social support is related to better medication adherence in this population.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed2002

Adherence to oral antidiabetic therapy in a managed care organization: a comparison of monotherapy, combination therapy, and fixed-dose combination therapy.

BACKGROUND: Although medication adherence is one of the most important aspects of the management of diabetes mellitus, low rates of adherence have been documented. OBJECTIVE: This study sought to examine medication adherence among patients with diabetes mellitus in a managed care organization who were receiving antidiabetic monotherapy (metformin or glyburide), combination therapy (metformin and glyburide), or fixed-dose combination therapy (glyburide/metformin). METHODS: Medication adherence was evaluated through a retrospective database analysis of pharmacy claims. The adherence rate was defined as the sum of the days' supply of oral antidiabetic medication obtained by the patient during the follow-up period divided by the total number of days in the designated follow-up period (180 days). Health plan members were included in the analysis if they had an index pharmacy claim for an oral antidiabetic medication between August 1 and December 31, 2000, were continuously enrolled in the health plan, and were aged > or =18 years. A 6-month pre-index period was used to classify patients as newly treated or previously treated. Patients were grouped according to their medication-use patterns. RESULTS: After adjustment for potential confounding factors, including overall medication burden at index, there were no significant differences in adherence rates among 6502 newly treated patients receiving monotherapy, combination therapy, or fixed-dose combination therapy. Among the 1815 previously treated patients receiving glyburide or metformin monotherapy who required the addition of the alternative agent, resulting in combination therapy, adherence rates were significantly lower (54.0%; 95% CI, 0.52-0.55) than in the 105 patients receiving monotherapy who were switched to fixed-dose combination therapy (77.0%; 95% CI, 0.72-0.82). The 59 previously treated patients receiving combination therapy who were switched to fixed-dose combination therapy had a significant improvement in adherence after the switch (71.0% vs 87.0%; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In a managed care organization, previously treated patients receiving monotherapy with an oral antidiabetic medication who required additional therapy exhibited significantly greater adherence when they were switched to fixed-dose combination therapy compared with combination therapy. Patients receiving combination therapy who were switched to fixed-dose combination therapy exhibited significantly greater adherence after the switch.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Medication costs, adherence, and health outcomes among Medicare beneficiaries.

In a two-year period more than two million elderly Medicare beneficiaries did not adhere to drug treatment regimens because of cost. This poor adherence tended to be more common among beneficiaries with no or partial medication coverage and was associated with poorer health and higher rates of hospitalization. The risk for cost-related poor adherence was especially pronounced among lower-income beneficiaries with high out-of-pocket drug spending. We argue that this pattern of cost-related poor medication adherence should inform the design of Medicare prescription drug benefit legislation.

Aged↗

PubMed2004

Interventions for seropositive injectors-research and evaluation: an integrated behavioral intervention with HIV-positive injection drug users to address medical care, adherence, and risk reduction.

BACKGROUND: Behavioral interventions to address the complex medical and HIV risk reduction needs of HIV-seropositive (HIV-positive) injection drug users (IDUs) are urgently needed. We describe the development of Interventions for Seropositive Injectors-Research and Evaluation (INSPIRE), a randomized controlled trial of an integrated intervention for HIV-positive IDUs, and the characteristics of the baseline sample. METHODS: HIV-positive IDUs were recruited from community settings in 4 US cities. After completing a baseline assessment, participants who attended the first session were randomly assigned to (1) a 10-session peer mentoring intervention designed to improve utilization of HIV care, to improve adherence to HIV medications, and to reduce sexual and injection risk or (2) an 8-session videotape control. Periodic follow-up for 12 months is ongoing. RESULTS: A total of 1161 HIV-positive IDUs completed the baseline assessment, and 966 (83%) were randomized. Retention rates are greater than 80% for all follow-up periods. Approximately 79% of baseline participants reported a recent medical visit, 49% were taking highly active antiretroviral therapy, and 19% had an undetectable viral load. Use of injection and noninjection substances was prevalent, and sexual and injection risks were each reported by more than 25% of participants. CONCLUSION: There is a need for an integrated intervention for HIV-positive IDUs, and these data show the acceptability of such an approach.

Educational Status↗

PubMed2003

Challenges of adherence management in human immunodeficiency virus pharmacotherapy.

Medication adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is currently a topic of major importance in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome care. HAART has dramatically reduced morbidity and mortality from HIV infection. Many people with HIV now live active and productive lives, with the disease itself having minimal impact on their lifespan. Unlike treatment for other chronic diseases, achieving the full benefit of HAART requires an extremely high level of adherence to potent antiretroviral combinations that is often difficult to achieve given the high pill burdens, drug interactions and adverse events associated with treatment. In this paper, the present knowledge regarding antiretroviral medication adherence is summarized with a focus on understanding the importance of adherence, the relationship between adherence and treatment response, the challenges and barriers facing patients trying to achieve optimal adherence, reasons for nonadherence, and the current directions and issues relevant to future adherence research.

Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active↗

PubMed2001

Sociodemographic characteristics associated with medical appointment adherence among HIV-seropositive patients seeking treatment in a county outpatient facility.

BACKGROUND: Adherence is a major problem facing HIV-seropositive patients. Low adherence has been associated with faster disease progression as well as development of drug-resistant strains of HIV. Thus it is critical to understand factors associated with treatment compliance. This study examined the independent contributions of disease severity, age, gender, household income, homelessness, ethnicity, and sexual orientation on appointment adherence. METHODS: Participants (n = 671) scheduled for appointments in an outpatient county treatment facility for HIV-related medical care completed demographic questionnaires and clinic staff collected appointment attendance data. RESULTS: Multiple regression analyses indicated that patients diagnosed with AIDS, older in age, and receiving a higher income were more likely to keep medical appointments. Additionally, African American ethnicity and identifying as heterosexual were associated with missing scheduled medical appointments. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that cultural and sociodemographic characteristics influence patients' adherence to outpatient services. Implications for interventions aimed at increasing medical adherence are discussed.

Adult↗