Half of adults stop taking their prescriptions before the recommended course.
What’s the best way to increase compliance? Sticking to once daily medications, or patient-friendly “packs” is one. Another would be placing your medication next to something you do everyday, such as a toothbrush or near your coffee mug.
A study discussed at a dermatology conference suggests text message reminders to patients. Those who were reminded via daily text message to use sunscreen were twice as more likely to do so.
Interesting concept, although I can see how a daily text message from your doctor can get annoying pretty fast.
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- Texting young liver transplant patients to take their medications
- Should doctors consider patients’ out-of-pocket costs?
- Doctors dealing with difficult patients, is it the fault of young physicians?
- Doctors are now interviewing patients in Canada
- What do patients want from their doctors?
- Promoting medication adherence via lottery
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{ 2 comments }
How about going back to apothecaries who actual compound medications so as to minimize the number of pills someone takes?
Oh, that’s right, the pharmaceuticals won’t make enough money that way!
Texting is a very effective way to reach patients. How about being able to text an appointment? Should physicians use Twitter? There are many new outlets medical professionals should be using to reach the next generation of 18 – 35 year old patients.
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