Effectiveness of a dapsone compliance program in leprosy.
BACKGROUND
Long-term effectiveness of a dapsone compliance program was assessed in patients with leprosy.


METHODS
The monitoring program consists of urine dapsone/creatinine ratio determination at each visit with subsequent patient feedback and education. Eighty-eight patients receiving dapsone and seen in a leprosy clinic from 1985-1990 were included.


RESULTS
The proportion of patients compliant with dapsone during a given year ranged from 70.0% (1987) to 94.4% (1989). Overall compliance for the 6-year period was 81.6%. This level of compliance was significantly different (P < 0.05) than the baseline compliance in the leprosy clinic of 46.7%.


CONCLUSIONS
Compliance monitoring, combined with active patient involvement, was effective in sustaining high compliance over a 6-year period.
Piscitelli
S C
SC
Department of Pharmacy Practice, Chicago Regional Hansen's Disease Center, University of Illinois.
Danziger
L H
LH
Hill
C
C
Slajchert
A A
AA
West
D P
DP
Fischer
J H
JH
D000328:Adult; D003622:Dapsone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance
D003622:Dapsone