OBJECTIVE -The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between adherence to statin therapy and LDL cholesterol goal achievement in patients with diabetes and dyslipidemia.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS -The records of patients being medically treated for dyslipidemia in a managed care diabetes program from January 2001 to December 2002 were used to assess LDL cholesterol goal attainment (Ͻ100 mg/dl) and to compute a 9-month medication possession ratio (percentage of days when medication was available [MPR], beginning with the first prescription in the database).RESULTS -A total of 653 patient records was analyzed. The average MPR was significantly higher for men than for women (0.75 vs. 0.66, P Ͻ 0.05). Overall, 44% (n ϭ 290) of the patients achieved an LDL cholesterol level Ͻ100 mg/dl (52% of men and 37% of women, P Ͻ 0.05). A significant correlation emerged between MPR and plasma LDL cholesterol (P Ͻ 0.001), and MPR was significantly higher in patients who achieved the LDL cholesterol target than in those who did not (0.82 vs. 0.61, P Ͻ 0.05).CONCLUSIONS -Although statins are highly effective for decreasing LDL cholesterol levels in patients with dyslipidemia, including those with diabetes, failure to reach LDL cholesterol targets remains common. Adherence to statin therapy, as reflected by MPR, is closely related to LDL cholesterol goal attainment in patients with diabetes and dyslipidemia. The probability of goal achievement appears to increase substantially when the MPR is Ͼ0.80. Pharmacy records can be used to identify patients who are poorly compliant with statin therapy and at high risk for failure to attain LDL cholesterol goals. Because outcomes are directly related to patients' medication-taking behavior, when clinical goals (such as serum cholesterol levels) are not being reached, adherence should be the first item assessed by the clinician. Diabetes Care 28:595-599, 2005

Sexually active college students are at risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV infection. As a result, health education initiatives to prevent these infections are commonplace, but few controlled research studies have evaluated behavioral changes as a result of on-campus sex education. In a nonrandomized control trial, sexual risk behaviors of 341 students who had received a comprehensive health education intervention in a first-year seminar were compared with 227 students who were not enrolled in the seminar. The seminar curriculum included an intervention addressing facts about sexually transmitted diseases, safer sex, values, decision making, and assertiveness skills. Sexual abstinence (no sexual intercourse), number of sexual partners, consistent condom use, and methods of contraception were assessed at baseline and after 3 months. Compared with students who had not received the intervention, men in the seminar reported increased sexual abstinence but no change in consistent condom use; the women in the intervention group reported no change in sexual abstinence but an increase in consistent condom use. Women who had not received the intervention reported never using a condom more frequently than women who had received the intervention. The health education intervention on a college campus was associated with short-term reduction in sexual risk behaviors, but the reduction varied according to the students' gender.