Compliance with drug therapy by epileptic patients

Fifty patients with epilepsy were randomly divided into three groups and given, respectively, oral information about the nature, purpose, appearances, functions, and unwanted effects of their medications at an initial interview; the same information supplemented by its presentation in written form for the patient to take home; and the same information by telephone contact only. Compliance with anticonvulsant therapy was assessed by interview and by drug levels. The amount of knowledge retained and the drug levels were measured again 4 weeks later. While no increase in serum levels could be detected over the mean values in the first interview, no reduction in levels could be documented either, although the drug information sheets had listed both the minor and the more serious unwanted effects of the drugs. The patients' information scores improved significantly in all three groups, but the combination of data presented at interview both orally and in written form was markedly superior to the other methods.