Quantifying the impact of non-adherence to drug therapy: a technical note concerning an application of a branch and bound algorithm.
Pharmacokinetic models typically rely on a key assumption that patients take their medication as prescribed, whereas this is often not the case. We present a branch and bound algorithm that can be used to estimate the time-varying probability that, given a specified pattern of nonadherence to a prescribed regimen, a patient receives no therapeutic benefit from treatment. Use of this algorithm is a much faster method for obtaining this probability than exhaustive computation of the relevant probability distribution. The use of this algorithm to assess, in quantitative terms, the impact of non-adherence on the effectiveness of treatment provides a rational basis for evaluating the potential harm to patients.
Smith
Daniel
D
Clinical Operational Research Unit, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
Pagel
Christina
C
Utley
Martin
M
Gallivan
Steve
S
D000465:Algorithms; D006801:Humans; D015233:Models, Statistical; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010599:Pharmacokinetics; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations