Millions Of Patients Not Taking Prescription Drugs Properly, Report Says

August 2, 2007 – 10:58 pm | posted in Compliance

Millions of U.S. residents with chronic conditions either do not take medications correctly or stop taking them altogether, according to a report to be released this week by the National Council on Patient Information and Education, the AP/Peoria Journal Star reports. According to the report, people who initially are symptom-free are particularly at risk. For example, about half of hypertension patients follow their prescribed drug regimen, even though high blood pressure triples the risk of heart disease. The report also finds that adherence is an issue that crosses age groups and that the possibility of severe consequences for not taking recommended medications is insufficient to guarantee proper use. Poor adherence could be costing the nation as much as $177 billion in medical bills and lost productivity per year, and it is associated with up to 40% of nursing home admissions, the report finds (AP/Peoria Journal Star, 7/31).

Some experts say that the wording of directions for drug dosing is too confusing, the typeface on the labels is too small and the instruction materials are given in too many formats, according to the AP/Houston Chronicle. In an effort to curb the problem, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality is planning a campaign to improve treatment adherence, according to director Carolyn Clancy. She said, “We go into this with some humility,” adding, “It’s really pretty appalling how badly we do” (Neergaard, AP/Houston Chronicle, 7/30).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Share This

Also Read

As Congress Considers Medicare Drug Plan Changes, New Study Finds Considerable Variation In Seniors’ Drug Costs

Let An Expert Help You With Your Medicines, Australia

Consumers Should Talk To Their Pharmacists About Pain Reliever Safety Pharmacists Can Answers Questions If Consumers Have Concerns

Direct-To-Consumer Ads Change Doctor-Patient Relationship, Op-Ed Says

Washington Post Examines Growing Trend Of Drug Dispensing By Physicians

Approach To Treating Severe Malnutrition Still Fails Millions Of Children

The National Association Of Boards Of Pharmacy Launches New Web Site And Podcast Series On The Dangers Of Counterfeit Drugs

eneric Prescription Drug Usage, Availability Increasing, According To FDA

Many Believe FDA, Congress Fail To Ensure Prescription Drug Safety, Survey Finds

Savings From Missouri Prescription Drug Sharing Program Unclear