[The introduction of a programme to improve the treatment compliance of institutionalised elderly patients]

To assess drug treatment compliance in institutionalised elderly patients, identifying reasons for poor compliance and introducing measures to reduce its prevalence.

A programme was designed to improve drug treatment compliance in geriatric patients in residential homes. Drug intervention consisted of using an educational technique of a mixed nature (verbal information with written back up). A data collection sheet was designed following a review of the literature. This was carried out by means of a clinical interview and by checking for tablets which were not taken.

A total of 62 patients were chosen for drug management at a health and welfare centre in Alicante and 140 interventions were performed (2.8 interventions per patient). Compliance improved and there were significant differences in the variable for distrust due to lack of information (p = 0.009) and almost significant differences in the variable for better understanding of the dispensing system (p = 0.058). Duplicate treatment of the patients was eliminated in all cases after the pharmaceutical intervention.

Our study suggests that pharmacist intervention in the drug management of geriatric patients can lead to improved treatment compliance, with the added benefits of improved knowledge of the medication and a reduction in possible drug-related problems.