[Evaluation of compliance through specific interviews: a prospective study of 73 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate compliance in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.


METHODS
Compliance was assessed through specific interviews.


RESULTS
A total of 73 patients who had concluded the maintenance phase of chemotherapy were enrolled on the study. Eighty-one percent of the interviews were conducted with the patients' mothers; 92% of the families stated that medical instructions had been understood well. Interviews indicated that 27% of the patients did not receive their medication twice or more during the maintenance phase, without medical direction for this. These children were considered non-compliant. Sixteen percent of the children failed to receive their medication three times or more. The main reason for non-compliance was forgetfulness. In ten cases the reported dosage of drugs was not that which was prescribed. No significant associations of non-compliance with parents' schooling level, number of family members or per capita family income were detected. The 8.5-year estimated probability of event free survival was 72.4% (95% CI: 59.2-82.3). The event free survival curves for non-compliant children were not statistically different from those for the compliant group.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that comprehensive approaches to the problem of non-compliance are urgently needed.
de Oliveira
Benigna M
BM
Departamento de Pediatria, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG. benigna@uol.com.br
Viana
Marcos B
MB
de Mattos Arruda
Letícia
L
Ybarra
Mariana Inês
MI
Romanha
Alvaro José
AJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015122:Mercaptopurine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D015122:Mercaptopurine; D008727:Methotrexate