Multi-compartment medication devices and patient compliance

Abstract

Multi-compartment medication compliance devices are widely used in primary care. The aim of this review is to reveal whether they are effective in promoting adherence among non-adherent adults living at home. Searches were undertaken using two electronic databases (Medline (1966-2003) and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (1970-2002)). Only randomized controlled trials (including crossover studies) were included in the review. Participants had to be non-institutionalized adults receiving one or more prescription medicines each day and displaying problems with adherence. Studies had to compare multi-compartment medication compliance devices to standard packaging and outcome measures and to include either pill counts, biological assays and/or clinical response. Articles were selected if they described a follow up period of at least three months and demonstrated that over 80% of participants had completed the trial. Two studies were identified that met the criteria, reporting data on a total of 148 patients. The findings from the first study found diabetic patients receiving medication in a compliance device demonstrated better glucose control than patients receiving medication in standard packaging. The second study found compliance devices had no impact on blood pressure control in hypertensive patients. Further research needs to be conducted to assess the effectiveness of multi-compartment medication compliance devices in promoting adherence among non-adherent adults living at home.