Effect of limited transportation on medication adherence in patients with epilepsy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether limited transportation affects medication adherence in patients with epilepsy.


METHODS
Descriptive, nonexperimental, cross-sectional study.


METHODS
United States and worldwide, February to April 2007.


METHODS
143 patients with epilepsy.


METHODS
A 22-item survey was developed to ask patients with epilepsy or their caregivers about the impact of limited transportation on adherence with medications. The survey was placed on Zoomerang.com. An invitation to participate in the survey was sent via e-mail to members of the Epilepsy.com website, and an invitation with a link to the survey was placed on Epilepsy.com.


METHODS
Whether patients with epilepsy have difficulty picking up prescriptions on time because of transportation problems and whether they felt they would miss fewer doses if transportation was not an issue.


RESULTS
143 individuals with epilepsy completed part or all of the survey. Of patients who were unable to drive, 45% reported that fewer doses would be missed if transportation was not a problem. Patients who were unable to drive had an odds ratio of 4.2 (P < 0.0001) of being unable to get medications on time. No differences were observed in the number of patients missing prescription medications associated with availability of insurance, use of mail service pharmacies, or population size of patients' area of residence. Ability to drive and distance to the pharmacy were the only factors associated with nonadherence.


CONCLUSIONS
Limited transportation may be a factor in poor medication adherence in patients with epilepsy.
Department of Pharmacy Practice, McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Samford University, Birmingham, AL, USA. twelty@kumc.edu
Timothy E
TE
Welty
Stacy L
SL
Willis
Elisabeth A
EA
Welty
D000328:Adult; D001334:Automobile Driving; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D034742:Electronic Mail; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014186:Transportation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States; D016903:Drug Monitoring