title: [Drug prescriptions: Adherence and understanding in Madagascar].
abstract: Frequently ignored or neglected, poor adherence is an important cause of treatment failure and a major public health problem. We assessed the factors involved in adherence in a hospital in Madagascar. This long-term study evaluated two groups of variables: patients' level of understanding of their disease and drug prescriptions, and the information on the prescription written by the doctor. We interviewed 93 in-patients (mean age: 50 years) and found that 16% were illiterate. Overall, 27% did not know the name of their illness, 34% were unaware of the treatment objectives, and 14% did not understand the drug prescription. On 20% of the prescriptions, the patients' name was not included, and the daily dose information and schedule was omitted from 16%. A day after receiving the prescription, only 64% had purchased the medication and only 53% of all patients had taken any. A correlation was observed between illiteracy, knowledge of the disease/treatment goals, and non-purchase of drugs. The poor quality of information contained in the prescriptions and patients' poor understanding of what they were supposed to do are obvious. Using pre-completed health forms and text messages might improve adherence.
authors: Département pharmacie de l'unité de rhumatologie, centre hospitalier universitaire Joseph-Raseta-Befelatanana (CHU JRB) Antananarivo, faculté de médecine d'Antananarivo, 101 Antananarivo, Madagascar.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Raharinjatovo
authors: Unité de rhumatologie, CHU JRB Antananarivo, faculté de médecine d'Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Ralandison
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D005260:Female; D057220:Health Literacy; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008270:Madagascar / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult; D016903:Drug Monitoring
keywords: Madagascar; adherence; drug acquisition; education; poverty; prescription quality