title: Timing of office visits can be a powerful tool to improve adherence in the treatment of dermatologic conditions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Poor adherence to treatment is a significant problem throughout medicine and particularly in the treatment of dermatologic conditions with topical medications, which present unique barriers to adherence.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We reviewed the literature to assess whether timing of office visits can be used to improve adherence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Studies examining adherence and office visits were identified using two search engines. PubMed was searched using the terms "medication adherence" OR "medication compliance" AND "visits." A Web of Science cited reference search was performed to identify articles referencing the paper "On white-coat effects and the electronic monitoring of compliance" by Alvan R. Feinstein, MD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifteen studies were identified, three of which were on dermatologic conditions. Thirteen studies found a positive correlation between adherence and office visits. Three of these studies demonstrated increased adherence with increased visit frequency. One study reported adherence was unaffected by office visits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our review was limited in that none of the studies identified looked at the effect timing of office visits had on adherence in the long term.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Strategic scheduling of office visits can be a valuable tool to improve adherence, particularly in the management of dermatologic conditions, and may help spare patients unnecessary exposure to more toxic systemic therapies.
authors: Center for Dermatology Research, Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1071, USA.
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Heaton
authors: Michelle M
authors: MM
authors: Levender
authors: Steven R
authors: SR
authors: Feldman
mesh_terms: D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D055118:Medication Adherence; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents