[Behavior of ambulatory patients concerning the taking of medicine]

In 296 patients from a rural district the behaviour concerning the intake of medicaments was observed. After prescription of riboflavin-tablets over a period of 10 days three times an examination of the urine for signs of fluorescence was performed. Apart from this in a consultation of the physician finishing the test a control of not consumed remedies was performed. Hypertensive patients and patients with acute disease took the medicaments prescribed by the physician very unreliably. On the other hand, patients in the postconvalescence phase after myocardial infarction showed an essentially better intake discipline. In the majority of cases the irregular intake of medicaments was not admitted. A one time consultation on necessity and performance of the medicamentous therapy clearly increased the intake reliability during the examination period in a part of the patients.