title: Survey of patient and physician assessment of a compliance reminder device in the treatment of hypertension.
abstract: Low compliance to therapeutic regimens can have serious impact on patient health. A variety of technologies such as tablet dispensers and reminders has been developed to improve compliance. The aim of this study was to assess the acceptance of patients and physicians with regard to the functions and usefulness of a reminder device. The respondents were participants in a trial evaluating antihypertensive medical treatment. Patients and treating physicians received a self-administered questionnaire to evaluate the device; 1194 patients and their physicians completed the questionnaire. Seventy-three per cent of patients stated that they always or mostly used the device. Overall, 78% of patients and 83% of physicians assessed the device positively. The reminder and feedback functions were assessed similarly. Sixty-four per cent of the patients stated that they would like to continue to use the device, as did 71% of the physicians. The reminder device was well accepted by a majority of patients and physicians in this study. Acceptance is an important factor for such a device to be used in everyday life and a majority of respondents wanted to continue using it. The current device could be a major help for patients on chronic medication therapy in a variety of therapies.
authors.affiliation: University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Arne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: Lona Louring
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Christrup
authors.forename: Paul Erik
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Fabricius
authors.forename: Marzena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chrostowska
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wronka
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Narkiewicz
authors.forename: Ebba Holme
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Hansen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003625:Data Collection; D004864:Equipment and Supplies / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010820:Physicians; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017010:Reminder Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*