title: [Assessment of the strategies to improve therapeutic compliance in routine clinical practice in noncompliant patients with Alzheimer-type dementia].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The potential benefits of the therapy for patients with chronic diseases such as Alzheimer's disease depends largely on adherence to the treatment. The main objective of this study was to assess which of the strategies used by physicians in clinical practice were effective in improving adherence in noncompliant patients with Alzheimer-type dementia (ATD).
  
  
  METHODS
  An epidemiological, multicenter, observational, prospective, study in non-compliant patients with diagnosis of ATD with a baseline assessment and two follow-up visits at three and at six months. The primary outcome was treatment adherence in the last month. Patients who had missed more than 20% of the prescribed doses or who had failed to have the doses in the time, dose or dosage form prescribed by the physician in more than 20% of the cases were considered as non-compliant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The first cause of non-adherence was forgetfulness, followed by the caregiver burden. Overall, the use of one or more strategies to improve adherence was effective. The percentage of non-adherent patients was reduced to 26% at three months and up to 14% at six months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The modification of treatment for Alzheimer's disease psychoeducation are effective interventions to reduce treatment failure in patients with ATD.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Alzheimer y otros trastornos cognitivos, Institut Clínic de Neurociències, Hospital Clínic i Universitari, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Molinuevo
authors.forename: Francisco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Arranz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010349:Patient Compliance; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017211:Treatment Failure
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations