One in 3 prescriptions are never redeemed: primary nonadherence in an outpatient clinic.
BACKGROUND
Despite being essential to medication adherence, redemption of initial prescriptions (ie, primary adherence) has been investigated only sparsely.


OBJECTIVE
The objectives were to determine the frequency and risk factors for primary nonadherence among outpatients with dermatologic conditions.


METHODS
Every 15th day during 2006, all patients receiving a prescription for an initial treatment with a previously untried medication were studied. Redemptions were traced in an electronic register after 4 weeks. Exclusions were a result of identical treatments within the last 6 months or hospitalizations within 4 weeks.


RESULTS
In all, 30.7% of the 322 eligible patients did not collect their medication. Patients with psoriasis were least adherent with nearly 50% of the prescriptions being unredeemed.


CONCLUSIONS
Only initial prescriptions for previously untried medications issued to hospital outpatients were studied.


CONCLUSIONS
For the clinician, primary nonadherence is an essential differential diagnosis when a given therapy fails.
Storm
Andreas
A
Department of Dermatology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg, Copenhagen, Denmark. astorm@dadlnet.dk
Andersen
Stig Ejdrup
SE
Benfeldt
Eva
E
Serup
Jørgen
J
D000328:Adult; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016312:Treatment Refusal