title: Pharmaceutic factors affecting pediatric compliance.
abstract: Evaluation of treatment given at home was studied in children with otitis media who were seen in an outpatient clinic. Full compliance was present in only 5% of the initial 100 patients (Study A). Practical factors limiting their compliance included inadequate dispensing of medication at drug stores, 15%; incorrect therapy schedule, 36%; early termination, 37%; spilled medicine, 7%; therapy shared, 5%. Because of these findings, a plan was implemented (Study B) in which hospital pharmacy personnel gave patient families verbal and written instructions for administering medications that were dispensed, together with a calibrated measuring device and a calendar to record doses taken. Full compliance was raised to 51% in this pilot group (of 33 patients) as compared with 8.5% in 20 concurrent controls who went to neighborhood drug stores. The importance of detailed therapy instructions is stressed. The potential role of the pharmacist in improving compliance is demonstrated.
mesh_terms: D000667:Ampicillin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000592:standards; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D004348:Drug Labeling / Q000592:standards; D004356:Drug Storage / Q000592:standards; D004358:Drug Therapy; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008484:Medicaid; D009518:New York; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000188:drug therapy; D010372:Pediatrics; D010604:Pharmacy / Q000592:standards*; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards
chemical_list: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D000667:Ampicillin