title: Effectiveness of a dapsone compliance program in leprosy.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice, Chicago Regional Hansen's Disease Center, University of Illinois.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Piscitelli
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Danziger
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Slajchert
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: West
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Fischer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003622:Dapsone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance
chemical_list: D003622:Dapsone