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One in 3 prescriptions are never redeemed: primary nonadherence in an outpatient clinic
Andreas Storm1, Stig Ejdrup Andersen, Eva Benfeldt
1Department of Dermatology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg, Copenhagen, Denmark. astorm@dadlnet.dk
Background:
Despite being essential to medication adherence, redemption of initial prescriptions (ie, primary adherence) has been investigated only sparsely.
Objectives:
The objectives were to determine the frequency and risk factors for primary nonadherence among outpatients with dermatologic conditions.
Methods:
Every 15th day during 2006, all patients receiving a prescription for an initial treatment with a previously untried medication were studied. Redemptions were traced in an electronic register after 4 weeks. Exclusions were a result of identical treatments within the last 6 months or hospitalizations within 4 weeks.
Results:
In all, 30.7% of the 322 eligible patients did not collect their medication. Patients with psoriasis were least adherent with nearly 50% of the prescriptions being unredeemed.
Limitations:
Only initial prescriptions for previously untried medications issued to hospital outpatients were studied.
Conclusions:
For the clinician, primary nonadherence is an essential differential diagnosis when a given therapy fails.
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