The effect of counseling by a pharmacist on drug compliance in elderly patients

The effect of counselling by a pharmacist on medication errors was assessed in fifty-three patients aged 65 years and over attending a day hospital. Despite random allocation to either the counselled or the uncounselled ('control') group, patients in the counselled group were making fewer errors than those in the control group even before they received instruction from the pharmacist. There was no evidence that those in the counselled group made fewer errors for complied better with their treatment as a result of counselling.