title: A study of drug compliance, including the effect of a treatment card, in elderly patients following discharge home from hospital.
abstract: Compliance with prescribed medication was assessed in 104 mentally alert elderly patients one and two months after discharge from a geriatric medical unit. Of the 82 patients (58 females, 24 males) who completed the study, 72% were compliant by average tablet count after one month and 69% after two months. Using urinary riboflavin excretion as a marker of compliance, 69% were compliant after one month and 59% after two months. These differences were not significant, nor was any significant difference shown when a crossover design was used to study the effect of a treatment card on compliance. No differences in age, sex, social support or number of tablets taken were found between compliant and non-compliant patients. The value of a careful explanation of drug therapy by both a hospital pharmacist prior to discharge, and a research nurse, one and two months after discharge, has been highlighted. A considerable number of patients benefited from the assistance of a relative or home helper in administering their own treatment. It is recommended that a suitable helper be identified and counselled to assist at risk elderly patients with their medication. Thus, elderly mentally alert patients can achieve a satisfactory level of compliance equivalent to younger patients if appropriate counselling is undertaken.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Medicine, Queen's University of Belfast, U.K.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Gilmore
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Temple
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Taggart
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010351:Patient Discharge; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations