Effect of a personal automated dose-dispensing system on adherence: a case series.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of the MD.2 Personal Medication System (MD.2) on patient medication adherence and refill persistence.


METHODS
Open noncontrolled case series.


METHODS
Community pharmacy.


METHODS
Three patients with a documented history of poor medication adherence and persistence.


METHODS
MD.2 placed in patients' homes for 3 months.


METHODS
Medication adherence (doses taken at prescribed times) and persistence (refills obtained at correct times) assessed before and after installation of MD.2.


RESULTS
Installation of MD.2 resulted in medication adherence rates of greater than 99% in all three patients. Refill persistence rates improved in both patients who needed refills during the study period. Missed doses and other problems were mostly due to caregiver error in filling or programming MD.2.


CONCLUSIONS
The MD.2 Personal Medication System had a positive effect on medication adherence and persistence in these three patients. Training and selection of caregivers may be especially important for effective use of the machine. Larger studies will be needed to validate these results.
Sather
Bethany C
BC
Medicap Pharmacy, Urbandale, Iowa, USA.
Forbes
John J
JJ
Starck
Donna J
DJ
Rovers
John P
JP
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003625:Data Collection; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010361:Patients; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations