title: Knowledge and compliance with medications in South East Asian refugees.
abstract: We evaluated knowledge about prescribed medications and compliance with taking those medications in 96 South East Asian refugees of different ethnic backgrounds seen in a primary care clinic. Two hundred and thirty (88%) of 262 prescribed medications were currently being taken by the patients. Although 97% of the medications were either named or described correctly, the correct rationale for taking the medication was known for only 79% and the correct dosage regimen for only 63%. Thirty-two (33%) of the 96 patients were not taking one or more of their prescribed medications, 17 (18%) were taking one or more medications not prescribed, 5 (5%) were taking duplicate forms of the same medication, and 4 (4%) were taking a medication that had been discontinued by the clinic provider. Seventy-two (75%) patients were taking one or more medications at an incorrect dose. Only 12 (12%) patients were fully compliant with all prescribed medications. We conclude that knowledge about and compliance with medications is a major problem among South East Asian patients attending a primary care refugee clinic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle 98104.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Buchwald
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Hooton
mesh_terms: D001210:Asia, Southeastern / Q000208:ethnology; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012036:Refugees; D014861:Washington