Unclaimed prescriptions after automated prescription transmittals to pharmacies.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the extent of and the reasons for unclaimed prescriptions, primary non-compliance, after automated transmittals to pharmacies.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study in 3 health care districts (population 240,000) in the southernmost of Sweden on unclaimed electronic prescriptions (e-prescriptions), transmitted to 21 pharmacies during the period of 3 months (2000) and semi-structured interview study with patients not claiming their e-prescriptions transmitted to 4 pharmacies during a period of 3 weeks (2001).


METHODS
Proportion of unclaimed e-prescriptions of total number of (dispensed and unclaimed) e-prescriptions and reasons for primary non-compliance.


RESULTS
In total, 2171 (2.4%) e-prescriptions remained unclaimed at the pharmacies. The peak non-redemption rate was observed for those 15-24 years old (5.5%). The lowest rate was observed for those 65-74 years old. Men had a higher non-redemption rate than women. The highest rate for men was observed 25-34 years old (6.6%). Drugs for the musculoskeletal system (ATC group M) had higher non-redemption rates than expected (3.9%), and antibiotics (ATC-group J) lower (1.7%). Adolescents and young adults, 15-24 years old, had high non-compliance rates for drugs for the musculoskeletal system (14%) and anti-asthmatic drugs (11%). Of 78 interviewed patients, not claiming their e-prescriptions, 61% reported no need to have the prescription dispensed. However, unintentional non-compliance was reported by 28%, most of them were not aware that a prescription had been transmitted to the pharmacy. Thirteen percent reported that non-redemption had given further medical problems or made obtaining a new prescription necessary.


CONCLUSIONS
Primary non-compliance was generally low, but there were differences related to age, gender and type of drugs. The most common reason reported for non-redemption was that the prescription was not needed, but some patients were unaware that prescriptions were issued and transmitted to the pharmacy.
Ekedahl
Anders
A
Department of Community Medicine, Lund University, Sweden. anders.ekedahl@apoteket.se
Månsson
Niclas
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D020407:Internet; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010594:Pharmacies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013548:Sweden