title: Adapting electronic adherence monitors to standard packages of topical medications.
abstract: Adherence to topical medications is poorly characterized. Electronic monitors can provide objective adherence data, but these monitors are not designed to work with tubes of medications. We sought to adapt standard electronic monitors to commonly used medication tubes. An adapter was created to fit over standard medication tubes. Screw threads on the adapter were designed to fit standard electronic monitors. Adapters and monitors were tested with tubes of gel, ointment, and cream over an 8-week test period during which the adapters were opened and closed twice daily. The adapters were easily mated to both plastic and aluminum topical medication tubes. The bond between the adapter and the tube was maintained throughout the study. Electronic monitors were 100% accurate at identifying medication events over the study period. We conclude that adapting existing electronic monitors to medication tubes should facilitate a much better understanding of adherence to topical treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157-1071, USA.
authors.forename: Mark G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Tusa
authors.forename: Mitchell
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ladd
authors.forename: Mandeep
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.forename: Rajesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Balkrishnan
authors.forename: Steven R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Feldman
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D004349:Drug Packaging; D004581:Electronics; D006801:Humans; D008838:Microcomputers; D010349:Patient Compliance; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012646:Self Administration
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations