title: Automated outreach to increase primary adherence to cholesterol-lowering medications.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Primary nonadherence occurs when new prescriptions are not dispensed. Little is known about how to reduce primary nonadherence. We performed a randomized controlled trial to evaluate an automated system to decrease primary nonadherence to statins for lowering cholesterol.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult members of Kaiser Permanente Southern California with no history of statin use within the past year who did not fill a statin prescription after 1 to 2 weeks were passively enrolled. The intervention group received automated telephone calls followed 1 week later by letters for continued nonadherence; the control group received no outreach. The primary outcome was a statin dispensed up to 2 weeks after delivery of the letter. Secondary outcomes included refills at intervals up to 1 year. Intervention effectiveness was determined by intent-to-treat analysis and Fisher exact test. Subgroups were examined using logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 2606 participants in the intervention group and 2610 in the control group. Statins were dispensed to 42.3% of intervention participants and 26.0% of control participants (absolute difference, 16.3%; P < .001). The relative risk for the intervention vs control group was 1.63 (95% CI, 1.50-1.76). Intervention effectiveness varied slightly by age (P = .045) but was effective across all age strata. Differences in the frequency of statin dispensations persisted up to 1 year (P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The intervention was effective in reducing primary nonadherence to statin medications. Because of low marginal costs for outreach, this strategy appears feasible for reducing primary nonadherence. This approach may generalize well to other medications and chronic conditions.
authors: Department of Research and Evaluation, Southern California Kaiser Permanente, Pasadena, CA 91188, USA. Stephen.F.Derose@kp.org
authors: Stephen F
authors: SF
authors: Derose
authors: Kelley
authors: K
authors: Green
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Marrett
authors: Kaan
authors: K
authors: Tunceli
authors: T Craig
authors: TC
authors: Cheetham
authors: Vicki Y
authors: VY
authors: Chiu
authors: Teresa N
authors: TN
authors: Harrison
authors: Kristi
authors: K
authors: Reynolds
authors: Southida S
authors: SS
authors: Vansomphone
authors: Ronald D
authors: RD
authors: Scott
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D032763:Behavior Control / Q000379:methods; D002140:California; D016303:Clinical Pharmacy Information Systems / Q000458:organization & administration; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D058015:Health Communication / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010548:Personal Health Services / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents