THE USE OF INTERNET-BASED TECHNOLOGY TO ASSESS MEDICATION ADHERENCE IN PATIENTS WITH HYPERTENSION AND TO PROVIDE INTERACTIVE HEALTH INFORMATION
Author(s)
Plakogiannis R1, Wong SL2, 1 Long Island University, Brooklyn, NY, USA; 2 Pfizer Inc, Syosset, NY, USA
A major factor why hypertension is often insufficiently controlled is due to poor medication adherence. The AdhereRx is a web-based technology that can assist practitioners in educating patients on the importance of medication adherence. The Morisky scale is a simple validated tool that can detect patient non-adherence to medications. OBJECTIVES: Assess patient medication compliance and hypertension goal achievement using the Morisky survey along with education resources included in the AdhereRx program. METHODS: This study was undertaken in a hospital outpatient pharmacy. Patient presented with an antihypertensive medication prescription was asked to complete the Morisky survey. Results were entered into the AdhereRx website. The most recent blood pressure measurement was recorded. Based on the Morisky score, the pharmacist browsed the online library and provided appropriate printed educational materials from the website in conjunction with individual verbal counseling to the patient. RESULTS: Of the 91 men and women with a mean age of 57.56 (standard deviation, 12.09) years, 21% had low to medium level and 79% had a high level of medication adherence. The most common reason patients stopped taking their medication was “forgot to take their medication” followed by “careless”, followed by “stop medication when feel better” and “stop medication when feel worse”. More patients in the high adherence group achieved blood pressure goal than patients who scored low or medium adherence, 83% vs. 63% respectively (p<0.001). Patients who had low adherence required more antihypertensive agents to control their blood pressure. In a Pearson correlation analysis, high medication adherence is associated with increased rates of blood pressure goal attainment (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: There is a strong positive correlation between medication adherence and blood pressure goal attainment. The AdhereRx web-based program is easy to use and provides specific tools to help practitioners educate their patients to improve medication adherence.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2004-10, ISPOR Europe 2004, Hamburg, Germany
Value in Health, Vol. 7, No. 6 (November/December 2004)
Code
PCV61
Topic
Patient-Centered Research
Topic Subcategory
Adherence, Persistence, & Compliance
Disease
Cardiovascular Disorders