Acne management in Japan: study of patient adherence.
Obtaining good adherence to acne therapy is a challenge for all dermatologists. We studied 428 acne patients in Japan to determine the likelihood of good adherence and factors associated with medication-taking. This study utilized a simple validated questionnaire to assess risk of poor adherence; information about patient and treatment characteristics was also collected. There was an overall rate of poor adherence in 76% of subjects. Adherence to topical medication was poor in 52% of those treated with a topical agent only (n = 123). Among those taking combination therapies (n = 275), adherence to the topical portion of therapy was poor in 49% of subjects. The likelihood of poor adherence to oral medication was higher, both when administered alone (n = 30, 93% poor adherence) and when given as part of a combination regimen (n = 275, 86%). Factors with an impact on adherence included satisfaction with treatment (p = 0.023) and the experience of side effects (p = 0.027). Patients who felt they had a good understanding of acne and its treatment were more likely to have good adherence. These data suggest that there is significant room for improvement in acne adherence in Japan, as in other areas of the world, and that improved education may enhance adherence.
Department of Dermatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan. ymiyachi@kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Yoshiki
Y
Miyachi
Nobukazu
N
Hayashi
Fukumi
F
Furukawa
Hirohiko
H
Akamatsu
Kayoko
K
Matsunaga
Shinichi
S
Watanabe
Makoto
M
Kawashima
D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011788:Quality of Life; D012176:Retinoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult; D016903:Drug Monitoring
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D012176:Retinoids; D014815:Vitamins