Mind the gap: how compliance aids increase the distance between patients and their medicines

Abstract

Focal points □ Compliance aids are widely used despite little evidence for their effectiveness □ As well as the benefits not being proven, there may be negative effects □ Pharmacists supplying compliance aids and their patients were interviewed about how repeat prescriptions were ordered and compliance aids collected; patients were also asked if they could name each of the medicines in the device □ In almost half of cases, delivery was by an unqualified person □ Nearly two‐thirds of patients did not know the names of any of their medicines □ Compliance aid use may contribute to increasing patients' remoteness from their medicines and delivery methods may mean that pharmacists are unable to monitor changes in the needs of this particularly vulnerable group of patients

Effect of drug reminder packaging on medication adherence: a systematic review revealing research gaps

“…However, safety issues were reported by two studies only [ 49 , 56 ]. Patient satisfaction and other aspects of safety, such as opening medication packaging, confusion with new packaging and decreased ability to identify one’s own medication [ 71 - 74 ], were hardly mentioned by the studies.…”

Multidrug punch cards in primary care: a mixed methods study on patients' preferences and impact on adherence

“…Only two patients requested written or oral medication information from the pharmacy. These findings might appear controversial, since a lack of medication information has been related to a reduction of knowledge resulting in a dangerous loss of skills and autonomy of the patient (Nunney and Raynor, 2001 ; Nunney et al, 2011 ; Royal Pharmaceutical Society, 2013 ). Inversely, good medication knowledge was suggested to reduce inappropriate medication administration, adverse events and non-adherence, and hence to increase medication safety (Kim et al, 2006 ; Field et al, 2007 ; Pernod et al, 2008 ; Chan et al, 2013 ).…”

“…Often, prepackaged dose-dispensing aids are delivered directly to the patient's home and thus were observed to reduce contact between the pharmacist and the patient. In connection, knowledge about self-administered medication seemed to be poorer in patients with dose-dispensing aids than in patients who manage their medication on their own (Nunney and Raynor, 2001 ; Kwint et al, 2013 ). A recommendation paper of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society criticizes the distribution of dose-dispensing aids to all patients without assessing their capabilities and needs (Royal Pharmaceutical Society, 2013 ).…”

Non-health care facility anticonvulsant medication errors in the United States

“…26,27 Use of child-resistant weekly pill boxes may be helpful for increasing medication adherence and preventing double dosing of medications, but could increase the risk of taking the wrong medication or other errors. 27 –32 The pharmaceutical industry should work to improve drug names and abbreviations to avoid similarities that may lead to medication errors. 26,33,34 It is also important that all prescription labels give clear dosing instructions.…”