Drug sample provision and its effect on continuous drug therapy in an indigent care setting

To assess the continuity and consistency of drug therapy among indigent patients following drug sample provision.

Retrospective study.

Indigent ambulatory care.

129 adult patients, identified as having been given a drug sample between January 1, 2004, and February 27, 2004.

Analysis of data regarding the sample regimen, duration, rationale for sample provision, therapeutic indication, and subsequent therapy prescribed in the 6 months following sample provision.

Lengths of gaps between sample provision and subsequent prescribed therapy were analyzed to evaluate the effect of sample provision on the continuity and consistency of drug therapy.

Of the 52 patients for whom continuous therapy was indicated, interruptions in therapy occurred in 50% (mean duration, 51.1 +/- 37.8 days; range, 2-123). Of the 65 patients who were prescribed subsequent therapy, 89.2% were prescribed the exact same drug, 9.2% a different drug in the same class, and 1.5% a different drug in a different class. Following sample provision, only 2 (3.1%) patients were prescribed generic medications.

Significant interruptions in drug therapy frequently followed sample provision in those requiring continuous treatment. On average, patients experienced interruptions in therapy for nearly 2 months. The majority of patients who were prescribed subsequent therapy were prescribed the same drug as the drug sample initially provided.