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Abstract
Objective To determine if a targeted and tailored intervention based on a discussion informed by validated adherence scales will improve medication adherence.
Design Prospective randomised trial.
Setting 2 community pharmacies in Brisbane, Australia.
Methods Patients recently initiated on a cardiovascular or oral hypoglycaemic medication within the past 4–12 weeks were recruited from two community pharmacies. Participants identified as non-adherent using the Medication Adherence Questionnaire (MAQ) were randomised into the intervention or control group. The intervention group received a tailored intervention based on a discussion informed by responses to the MAQ, Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire-Specific and Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire. Adherence was measured using the MAQ at 3 and 6 months following the intervention.
Results A total of 408 patients were assessed for eligibility, from which 152 participants were enrolled into the study. 120 participants were identified as non-adherent using the MAQ and randomised to the ‘intervention’ or ‘control’ group. The mean MAQ score at baseline in the intervention and control were similar (1.58: 95% CI (1.38 to 1.78) and 1.60: 95% CI (1.43 to 1.77), respectively). There was a statistically significant improvement in adherence in the intervention group compared to control at 3 months (mean MAQ score 0.42: 95% CI (0.27 to 0.57) vs 1.58: 95% CI (1.42 to 1.75); p<0.001). The significant improvement in MAQ score in the intervention group compared to control was sustained at 6 months (0.48: 95% CI (0.31 to 0.65) vs 1.48: 95% CI (1.27 to 1.69); p<0.001).
Conclusions An intervention that targeted non-adherent participants and tailored to participant-specific reasons for non-adherence was successful at improving medication adherence.
Trial registration number ACTRN12613000162718; Results.
- medication adherence
- non-adherence
- targeted
- tailored
- intervention
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Footnotes
Contributors T-M-UN, AL and NC, designed the research and wrote the manuscript. T-M-UN performed the research and analysed the data.
Funding This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Competing interests None declared.
Patient consent Obtained.
Ethics approval Ethics approval was obtained from the School of Pharmacy Ethics Committee, University of Queensland (approval number 92013/5).
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
Data sharing statement No additional data are available.