title: Relationship between tablet splitting and compliance, drug acquisition cost, and patient acceptance.
abstract: As managed care pharmacy continues to grow and medication costs increase, pharmacy managers are continually looking for ways to reengineer distributive services to provide the most cost-effective care. In an effort to save money, the San Diego Veterans Affairs Healthcare System (SDVAHS) and other health systems have implemented tablet-splitting programs targeted at high-cost and widely prescribed medications. Despite this growing practice, published research examining the effects on compliance rates, patient acceptance, and actual cost savings is lacking. A recent computer-assisted literature search revealed only one study of tablet splitting that addressed patient compliance and acceptance. In that study, patients taking lovastatin and using a tablet splitter were mailed a questionnaire to assess their impressions of tablet splitting. A majority of the patients found tablet splitters easy to use and reported that compliance was not hindered. However, compliance was subjectively evaluated through patients' responses to questions; actual tablet counts were not performed. Furthermore, actual cost savings (if any) were not determined.
authors.affiliation: Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Vallejo, CA 94589-2485, USA. nabeelfawell@kp.org
authors.forename: N G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Fawell
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Cookson
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Scranton
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017046:Cost Savings; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010349:Patient Compliance; D013607:Tablets
chemical_list: D013607:Tablets