Effect of telephone follow-up on medication compliance

Abstract

This study compared the effectiveness, in improving patient compliance with a 10-14 day course of antibiotic therapy, of the following two strategies: (1) a follow-up telephone call and (2) written instructions and oral consultation by a pharmacist. The 82 study patients were randomly assigned to four groups: 1--control; 2--call-back; 3--written and oral consultation; and 4--written and oral consultation plus a call-back. The follow-up telephone call was made on the fourth or fifth day of the prescription course. The need to take the medication as directed and until completion was explained and reinforced. Any problems with the medication were determined. Compliance was assessed on the ninth or tenth day of therapy by a patient dosage unit count, and the patient's knowledge of the medication regimen was evaluated by a structured interview. The mean compliance was 76.6% for the control group, 86.6% for Group 2, 87.5% for Group 3, and 85.4% for Group 4. The compliance in the control group was significantly less than for each of the study groups (p = 0.0295), but the three study groups were not significantly different (p less than 0.05). Patients receiving written and oral consultation had significantly greater knowledge about side effects and what to do if they missed doses (p less than 0.002). After follow-up telephone call was equal to, but did not enhance, written and oral consultation in improving patient compliance.