Electronic prescribing influence on calcium supplementation: a randomized controlled trial

The purpose of this study was to determine whether an electronic prescription for over-the-counter calcium supplements increases compliance.

Two hundred forty-five patients from 19-50 years of age who underwent annual gynecologic examinations were assigned randomly to either verbal counseling about the use of a calcium carbonate with vitamin D supplement (n = 122) or verbal counseling and an electronic prescription (n = 123). Telephone interviews at 3 and 6 months determined compliance.

Women who received the electronic prescription were significantly more likely to use calcium supplementation than control subjects at both 3 and 6 months. At 3 months, 66.0% of women who received an electronic prescription reported compliance (P = .001). At 6 months, 57.0% of the participants were compliant (P = .001). At 6 months, women who were given the electronic prescription were 2.2 times more likely to report having taken the calcium than were control subjects (95% confidence interval, 1.5-3.1).

An electronic prescription for over-the-counter calcium supplements is associated with a significant increase in compliance, compared with verbal counseling alone.