>G~MENsz - 

CAUSES OF NONCOM~L~ANCE 

OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL 

OFFICE OF EVALUATION AND IJ5iSPECTIONS I 

JUNE 1990 
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL 

The mission of the Ofice of Inspector General (OIG) is to promote the efficiency, 

effectiveness, and integrity of programs in the United States Department of Health and Human 

Services (HHS). It does this by developing methods to detect and prevent fraud, waste, and 

abuse. Created by statute in 1976, the Office of Inspector General keeps both the Secretary 

and the Congress fully and currently informed about programs or management problems and 

recommends corrective action. The OIG perfoms its mission by conducting audits, 

investigations, and inspections with approximately 1,400 staff strategically located around the 

country. 

OFFICE OF EVALUATION AND INSPECTIONS 

This report is produced by the Office of Evaluation and Inspections (OEI), one of the three 

major offices within the OIG. The other two are the Office of Audit Services and the Office of 

Investigations. Inspections are conducted in accordance with professional standards 

developed by OEI. These inspections are typically short-term studies designed to determine 

program effectiveness, efficiency, and vulnerabilities to fraud or abuse. , , 

Entitled "Medication Regimens: Causes of Noncompliancey' this report identifies why elderly 

people have following instructions for prescription medication use. 

The study was carried out under the direction of Linda Herzog, Regional Inspector General, 

Office of Evaluation and Inspections, Atlanta Region. Participating in the project were the 

following people: 

ATLANTA 

Jean Dufresne 

HEADQUARTERS 

=cki Greene 
MEDICATION REGIMENS; 

CAUSES OF NONCOMPL~ANCE 

Richard P. Kusserow 

INSPECTOR GENERAL 

- 

OEl-04-89-891 21 JUNE 1990 
- I 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 

PURPOSE 

The purpose of this inspection is to determine why elderly people fail to follow prescription 

medication regimens. 

BACKGROUND 

Failure to adhere to medication instructions, either willful or inadvertent, has been termed 

noncompliance with medication regimens. Instances of noncompliance can include failing to 

initially fill a prescription, taking either more or fewer doses than instructed, and taking 

medications that have been prescribed for someone else. 

Writ research indicates that 55 percent of the elderly do not follow the medication 

regimens prescribed by their physicians. 

METHODS 

This inspection examines and summarizes extensive prior research in the area of 

noncompliance with medication regimensJt also draws on congressional testimony, reports 

issued by consumer groups involved with medication issues, and reports of government 

agencies concerned about the elderly, medications, and medical compliance. 

FIND1 NGS 

The consequences of noncompliance are serious and costly. 

Noncompliance with medication regimens can result in the increased use of medical resources 

such as nursing homes, hospitals, physician visits, and unnecessary treatment. Noncompliance 

with medication regimens may also result in therapeutic failure. For example, missed doses of 

cardiac anti-arrhythmics can lead to arrhythmia and cardiac arrest. 

There are many inter-related reasons for noncompliance. 

Reasons why elderly people fail to comply with medication ~gimens fall into four main 

categories: 

Physiological factors: Loss of vision or heaxing can impede an elderly person's ability to 

read important information about his prescription or to hear instructions about his regimen. 

Mobility limits, type of disease, the presence of symptoms, memory loss, depression, and 

cognitive impairment are other physiological variables that can negatively affect compliance. 
Behavioral factors: These include social isolation, social and health beliefs, and economic 

condition. Many elderly people live alone. Studies have shown that people who live alone 

more often fail to comply with medication regimens. For those elderly on fixed, minimal 

incomes, the ability to purchase expensive medications may also be a factor in noncompliance. 

Treatment factors: These include the duration and complexity of the medication ~gimen. 

Compliance rates decrease when the treatment is long-term and when the regimen includes 

many different medications that must be taken concurrently. Other treatment factors include 

the type of medication prescribed, and the patient's perception of the medication. 

Health Care Providerkatient Interaction factors: These include how well the physician, 

the pharmacist, and the patient communicate with each other. The quality and content of a 

physician's instructions, the content of a pharmacist's label, and the ability of a patient to ask 

questions can all affect compliance. 

Education is the key to improving compliance. 

Strategies to improve compliance include physicians and pharmacists better educating patients 

about their medication regimens. Effective counseling by the physician and pharmacist may 

be the single best intervention for patients with compliance problems. Public education 

groups are also currently involved in informing and educating elderly citizens about 

medication issues. Compliance aids such as medication reminder charts may be useful tools 

for patients with memory impairments, or patients on complex medication regimens. 

Attempts to improve compliance through educational and other behavioral strategies do work, 

as long as they are matched to the individual patient's needs. There is evidence to suggest that 

kith the proper education and support the elderly can overcome compliance difficulties. 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 

.................................................. INTRODUCTION 1 

FINDINGS ....................................................... 3 

MANY ELDERLY DO NOT COMPLY WITH MEDICATION REGIMENS; 

THECONSEQUENCESARESERIOUS .................................... 3 

Extent of Medication Use .................................... 3 

Frequency of Noncompliance ................................ 4 

Consequences of Noncompliance ............................ 5 

THERE ARE MANY INTER-RELATED REASONS FOR ................................................. NONCOMPLIANCE 6 

Physioiogical Factors ........................................ .. 6 

Behavioral Factors ......................................... 9 

Health Care Provider~Patient lntemction ...................... 12 

EDUCATION IS THE BEST WAY TO IMPROVE COMPLIANCE .................. 15 

Educating Patients and Health Care Providers ................. 15 

Using Compliance Aids .................................... 16 

Compliance Can Be Improved ............................... 17 

APPENDIX A 

Other 010 Studies of Elderly Medication Issues .................... .A . 1 

APPENDIX B 

Endnotes ..................................................... 8.1 

APPENDIX C 

Selected Bibliography .......................................... C . 1 
INTRODUCTION 

PURPOSE 

Research has shown that a significant proportion of elderly people do not correctly follow 

their physicians' instructions for taking prescribed medications. The purpose of this study is 

to determine why elderly people may fail to follow prescription medication regimens: 

BACKGROUND 

In April 1989, the Office of Inspector General issued a report entitled "Medicare Drug 

Utilization Review" (ON-01-88-00980). The report describes patterns of mismedication 

among elderly adults, identifies components of the drug delivery system that contribute to the 

problem, and describes drug utilization review (Dm) interventions that appear most 

promising to Medicare. 

This inspection is related to that April report. Its focus is noncompliance among the elderly 

with medication regimens. Willful and inadvertent noncompliance contribute significantly to 

the problem of mismedication. 

Appendix A lists additional studies related to medication and the elderly which have been 

completed, are underway.or are planned by the Office of Inspector General. 

DEFINITIONS 

Mismedication occurs when a patient fails to take medication as prescribed by his physician. 

This failure, either willful or inadvertent, is termed noncompliance. Noncompliance can 

include: 

failing to initially fill a prescription; . 

failing to refill a prescription as directed; 

omitting a dose(s); 

over dosing; 

prematurely discontinuing medication; 

taking a dose at the wrong time; 

taking a medication prescribed for someone else; 

taking a dose with prohibited foods, liquids, and other medications; 
taking outdated medications; 

taking damaged medications; 

storing medications improperly; and 

improperly using medication administration devices (e.g. inhalers.) 

METHODS 

This report is based on the findings of numerous researchers in the field of medical 

compliance. The number of original studies on compliance is itself extensive. The number of 

reviews of the literature now exceeds the number of original studies.' This inspection draws 

on both the original research and the reviews for many of its findings. The literam ranges 

from small, narrowly focused studies on aspects of noncompliance, to books which 

extensively discuss the elderly and their medication problems, including noncompliance. In 

addition, various authors of the literature were contacted for information and clarification of 

issues. This report also draws on congressional testimony, reports issued by consumer groups 

involved with medication issues, and reports issued by government agencies which are 

concerned about the elderly, medications, and compliance. See Appendix C for a list of 

compliance-related literam reviewed for this inspection. 
MANY ELDERLY DO NOT COMPLY WITH MEDICATION REGIMENS; 

THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR NONCOMPLIANCE ARE SERIOUS. 

Extent of Prescription Medication Use By fhe Elderly 

Adults aged 65 and over comprise approximately 12 percent of the United States population. 

but they consume 30 pexcent of all prescription medications dispensed By the year 2030, the 

proportion of elderly to the total population is expected to reach 23 percent.3 It is likely that 

their consumption of prescription medications will also rise, as more and more elderly come to 

rely on medications for management of chronicC disease. Eighty-six percent of the elderly 

have at least one chronic disease requiring medication! The following table shows that those 

over 65 have a greater incidence of chronic disease which commonly requires medication 

therapy. 

Extent of Chronic Disease I 

Commonly Treated with Medication by Age Group I I I 

Adapted from: National Center for Health Statistics, C.A. Shoenborn and M. Marano, 1988 

"Cmnt Estimates from the National Health Interview Survey: United States 1987. 

Vital and Health Statistics Series 10, No. (PHS) 88-1594, Public Health Se~ce. Washington: 

U. S. Government Printing Office. 

Then is heightened concern in the health care field about patients with chronic conditions. 

Their use of prescription medication shifts the mode of their treatment fiom direct medical 

care to continuous patient self-management? Ninety-five percent of the elderly live outside 

of institutions and are responsible for their own medications! 

Arthritis 

Hypertension 

Heart Disease 

Diabetes 

One researcher found that 25 percent of elderly patients discharged fiom a hospital leccived 

six or more prescriptions. 7 

45-54 

27% 

25% 

Under 45 

3% 

4% 

3% 

3% 

A community-based sample showed that 25 percent of the elderly use four or more 

prescriptions regularly. 8 

65 and Over 

48% 

35% 

12% 

5% 

30% 

10% 
The types of prescription medications most used by the elderly are: 

cardiovascular; 

diuretic; 

anti-infective; and 

9 psychotropic. 

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) has estimated that the total amount 

spent by elderly persons for medications (including over-the-counter preparations) in a single 

year is over $9 billion. lo 

Frequency of Noncompliance Among the Elderly 

Prior research indicates that 55 percent of the elderly fail to comply in some way with their 

medication ~~imens." Podell and Gary have suggested that one-third of the elderly always 

comply, one-third sometimes comply, and one-third never comply with their medication 

regimens. 12 

An American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) survey of ambula&y elderly found that 

33 percent said they had prematurely discontinued a prescribed medication, and 14 percent 

failed to initially fa a prescription at least once.') 

Noncompliance with medication regimens is a problem not only among the elderly. " Forty-three percent of the general population made errors in self-administration of their 

medications according to one study. However, the same study showed that 58 percent of the 

elderly made errors when taking their medication^.'^ In one of the early studies done on the 

subject of noncompliance, 26 percent of the elderly studied made errors which had potentially 

serious consequences as judged by the patients' primary physicians. 15 

Rates of medication compliance are difficult to generalize. An individual patient's compliance 

behavior may not be consistent. A patient may comply with one medication but not another.16 

Compliance behavior may change over time due to the patient's perceptions of efficacy of 

treatment and other factors.l7 

Methodological m~ulties associated with conducting compliance studies may lead to an 

underestimation of the extent of the compliance problem l8 The development of electronic 

compliance monitoring &vices may help researchers, clinical trial investigators, and 

practicing physicians better track noncompliance in their patients. 
Consequences of Noncompliance 

Of all age groups the elderly benefit the most from taking medications and risk the most from 

failing to take them properly. The consequences are more serious, less easily detected, and 

less easily resolved than in younger age groups. 

19 

Noncompliance with medication orders can increase the use of medical resources. 

Across the general population it has been estimated that noncompliance with 

treatment for cardiovascular disease results in an excess of 125,000 deaths and 

several thousand hospitalizations per year. (Six of the ten most frequently used 

drugs for patients 75 years and older are cardiova~cular.)~~ 

. Up to 23 percent of nursing home admissions may be due to elderly patients' 

inability to self-administer medications21 

About 10 percent of ho ital admissions may be due to poor patient compliance % with medication orders. 

Over a two-month period, researchers at a large teaching hospital found that 

drug-noncompliance-related hospital admissions for 23 patients accounted for 590 

hospital days and appmximately $60,000 in avoidable costs? 

Emergency care may be required if patients fail to take their medications properly. 

Increased physician visits may be required if, because of medication 

noncompliance, the patient's condition does not improve. If the physician is not 

aware of the noncompliance, higher doses or additional medications might be 

prescribed which are unnecessary and possibly dangerous.a 

Additional diagnostic tests may be ordered if, because of medication 

noncompliance, the patient's condition does not improve or worsens. 

Additional or unnecessary alternative treatments may be prescribed as a result of I 

noncompliance. 

There is documentation that medication noncompliance is directly related to therapeutic 

failure. For instance: 

Missed doses of anti-glaucoma medications lead to optic nerve damage and 

blindness. 

Missed doses of cardiac anti-arrhythmics lead to arrhythmia and cardiac arrest, 

Missed doses of anti-hypertensives lead to rebound hypertension (sometimes worse 

than if no medication had been taken in the Errst place). 

Missed doses of antibiotics lead to recurrent infection and also to ,the emergence of 

resistant micro-organisms. 25 
The foregoing section described the adverse consequences of patients' failure to take 

medication as prescribed. However, there is another side to the story. Noncompliance can 

reveal when a medication has been unnecessarily prescribed. The patient who has been 

prescribed an unnecessary medication may be better off if helshe does not comply, provided 

that the physician is aware of the noncom liance. Otherwise the physician may keep 

prescribing the unnecessary medication. 2 

THERE ARE MANY INTER-RELATED REASONS FOR NONCOMPLIANCE. 

One group of researchers identified over 200 variables that have been examined in relation to 

compliance with medical regimens." This nport by the Office of Inspector General identifies 

those variables that have the most bearing on reasons why the elderly may fail to comply with 

their medication. regimens. These variables fall into four main categories: 

physiological factors 

behavioral factors 

treatment factors 

health care providerlpatient interaction. 

Despite the fact that the variables are discussed as separate classes, in practice they overlap 

substantially. They should not be viewed as independent. 

It is also important to keep in mind that age by itself is not a determining factor in 

noncompliance. Rather, the many factors discussed below may combine to render the elderly 

less able to comply with their medication regimens. 28 

Finally, there is evidence to suggest that with the roper motivation, education, and support, 

the elderly can overcome compliance !9 

Physiological Factors 

Sensory Impairmenf: Well over a million older adults have impaired vision - a critical factor 

in compliance with prescription medication regimens.u) Loss of vision can impair reading 

and understanding of prescription labels and other printed instructions handed out by the 

physician or pharmacist. 

Fifty-four percent of partially sighted persons are estimated to be at least 65 years 

old. (Most partially sighted persons are unable to read newspaper column type at 

normal reading distances even with the help of eyeglasses, and have 

recognizing faces even when they are close.) 31 

Forty-six percent of the functionally blind group sre 65 years or 0lder.3~ 
Critical communication with the physician or pharmacist can be missed by the patient with a 

hearing defi~it.3~ 

At least 30 percent of individuals 65 and older have significant impairment of 

hearing in the frequencies associated with normal speech. 34 

Mobility Limits: Decreased mobility and dexterity can limit a erson's ability to have 35 prescriptions filled, and to open and close childproof containers. 

Almost half of all noninstitutionalized elderly are limited in mobility because of 

chronic conditions. 36 

Type of Disease: Studies of patients with chronic conditions show that compliance is worse 

when: 

the medicine is taken preventively; 

the disease is without symptoms; and 

there are no immediate negative consequences of noncompliance. 37 . . 

Presence of Symptoms: An illness with easily mognized and unpleasant symptoms that are 

relieved b the use of medication is more likely to promote compliance with medication 

regimens? However, Haynes claims that it is the degree of disability brought about by 

symptoms that promotes good compliance. He speculates that compliance improves because 

the disability results in closer supervision of the patient?9 

Some symptoms may fail to stimulate the commitment to follow medication orders. The 

elderly in particular may adapt to a steady state of symptomatic discomfort, or resign to 

"feeling pretty good for my age.'*' Some of these elderly may prefer to live with mi& 

symptoms than deal with the inconvenience of a medication regimen. 

Some patients use symptoms as barometers to determine when they should discontinue taking 

medication. Such decisions to discontinue medication are based on the mistaken assumption 

that the abatement of symptoms indicates recover#' In a study of a group of hypertensives, 

some patients reported that they only took their medication(s) when they knew their blood 

pressure was high. Their assessments of blood pressure levels were based on symptoms such 

as headaches and stress, although research shows that hypertension is a disease without 

symptoms. 42 
Memory Loss: Memory loss is a critical problem for many elderly trying to recall a 

physician's or pharmacist's instruction for medication use. 

Memory loss can be caused by prescribed medications. 

Memory loss may indicate senile dementia, a condition difficult to recognize in its 

earliest stages.43 The prevalence of dementia in the noninstitutionalized elderly 

population is about five percent. 44 

Depression: Depression is one of the most important psychological disorders of late age. A 

community-based sample estimated the prevalence of depressive symptoms among the elderly 

to be approximately 15 The ol&r adult with depression can present serious 

problems to the health care provider who depends on the patient's cooperation to achieve 

compliance with a medication ~gimen. Some depressive symptoms include: 

sadness; 

loss of gratification; 

constant fatigue; 

apathy; 

psychomotor retardation; 

diminished social interaction; and 

. insomnia. 46 

Cognitive Impairment: According to Lamy, approximately 15 percent of the 

noninstitutionalized elderly have significant cognitive impairments likely to affect their ability 

to give an accurate medical history as well as to follow physicians' instruction^?^ 

Some older persons do not seem to process new information as thoroughly as younger persons 

and may need more time to learn new information. Distractions and information presented at 

a fast pace can seriously disrupt learning. 48 

Trying to learn a great deal of information in a short period of time (such as learning a 

complex medication regimen), can create a state of information overload. People deal with 

information overload by: 

omission - failing to process information; 

error - processing information incorrectly; 

delay - processing information at a later time; 

fdtering - fitting input into existing belief; 
approximation - processing only a part of the information; and 

avoidance - ignoring information. 49 

Behavioral Factors 

Social Isolation: People who live alone more frequently fail to comply with medication 

regimens. This suggests that for those not living alone, the spouse, companion, or associate 

assumes a role in ensuring that medications are taken as prescribed.50 

Approximately 35 percent of individuals over 65 live alone (the large majority of 

whom are women). 5 1 

The effects of social isolation include: 

rusty social skills, including difficulty asking and answering questions; and 

cognitive impairment, including difficulty understanding direction^?^ 

Even regular contact with children may not compensate for the loss of a spouse or 

a dwindling social networQ3 

Social and Health Beliefs: Patients hold many beliefs about their health and about the 

potential efficacy of any proposed treatment action. Patients' beliefs can be based on: 

misconceptions; 

faulty information; and/or 

cultural conditioning. 

For example, some elderly people may believe: 

"You need to give your body some restfiom medicine once in awhile or else your 

body becomes dependent on it or immune to it," or 

'You only take medicine when you are ill and not when you feel better," or 

"If one dose is good, two must be better." 

These beliefs and feelings may be shared and supported by significant others in the patient's 

life.54 

Economic Condition: Elderly people on minimal fixed incomes may be unable to afford 

necessary medications. Overall, the elderly pay 14 percent more per prescription than the 

nonelderly because of the mix of medications and the number of doses, which is often greater 

due to long-term therapy. Furthermore, the elderly pay a larger percentage of their 

prescription medication costs out of pocket. 55 
Since 1980 prescription medication prices have increased two to three times faster than all 

consumer prices, while real income has remained relatively static.56 Social Security payments . 

have increased at about the same rate as general inflation, but medication price inflation has 

far exceeded general inflati~n.~' 

About 14 percent of the noninstitutionalized elderly live below the poverty level. An 

additional 25 percent live just above the pove line? Some of these patients may need to say make choices between medications and food. A survey conducted for the American 

Association of Retired Persons (AARP) in 1986 found cost the second most frequently cited 

reason for not getting a prescription filled. 60 

Treafmenf Factors 

Side Effects of Medications: Although some researchers think that side effects of 

medications contribute to noncompliance, the research evidence is inconclusive. 

Two controlled studies found no difference in the frequency of side effects 

between persons who comply with medication regimens and those who do not6' 

In thirteen studies in which patients were asked their reasons for not taking 

medication as directed, side effects were mentioned by only five to ten percen~62 

In an anti-hypertensive drug trial, seven percent of the actually treated group 

complained of symptoms that may or may not have been medicine related; the 

placebo group had the same frequency and distribution of complaints.63 

The AARP has drawn a different conclusion about the relationship between side effects and 

noncompliance. In a survey of people 45 and older, 40 percent of the respondents stated they 

had experienced some form of side effect during medication use. Of this 40 percent, 59 

percent responded that they stopped taking the medication as a result of the side effect. Of the 

65 and older respondents, only 47 percent informed their physicians of the disc~ntinuation.~~ 

Furthermore, the elderly may be more prone to side effects, because their metabolic response 

to doses of medications tested on younger people may be 

Finally, for diseases (such as hypertension) which have no unpleasant symptoms, a medication 

that causes unpleasant effects may well increase the likelihood of noncompliance.66 

Medication Class: There is evidence to suggest that compliance will vary with the type of 

medication. Researchers have observed: 

an 89 percent compliance rate with cardiac medicines; 

a 78 percent compliance rate with insulin and antidiabetic medicines; 

a 72 percent compliance rate with dimtic medicines; 
a 61 percent compliance rate with anti-hypertensive medicines; 

a 41 percent compliance raw with sedatives; 

Research in this area is not complete. Researchers do not offer conclusive reasons for their 

findings6' 

Perception of Medication: Researchers have found that the size, form, and color of 

medication affect compliance. 

Capsules are viewed as significantly stronger than pills. 

Larger preparations arc equated with greater strength. 

Capsule or pill colors can elicit expectations of medication action. Green is 

associated with tranquilizing effects, and yellow is associated with energizing 

effects. 68 

A patient may deci& to discontinue or alter medication use because. the pill or capsule simply 

looks like it will have an effect that the patient does not want to experience. 

Some elderly patients with vision or cognitive deficits may be confused by similarly shaped 

and colored medications? 

The nature of the dosage form, such as the size of the pill or a liquid pre aration, can 

negatively affect compliance if it is inconvenient to take or unpalatable. Po 

Duration of 'lkeatment: A consistent finding in the research on medication compliance is 

that compliance rates decrease over time. This is significant for the elderly because of the 

higher frequency of chronic conditions which require long-term or permanent medication 

therapy?' 

Complexity of Treatment: The number of medications taken can ne atively affect 

compliance. The mon medications taken, the worse the compliance. BL 

It has not conclusively been shown that the frequency of dosing (how often medications ~IE 

taken during the day) affects compliance, but differing concurrent dosage schedules can be 

inconvenient, confusing, and easy to forgern Furthermore, the number of medications 

prescribed can affect the fnquency of dosing?4 
Health Care Pro vider/Patient Interaction 

Role of the Physician: Although most research focuses on the issue of compliance as a 

patient problem, compliance is the physician's responsibility as well as the patient's.75 

Physicians generally unde~stimate the levels of noncompliance among their own patients?6 

They have also been shown to be unreliable predictors of whether or not individual patients 

will comply. 77 

Physicians' beliefs about and attitudes toward elderly patients can affect their interaction and 

communication with them. 

Studies have shown that many physicians have an overall negative attitude toward treating 

elderly patients?8 Gerontological studies suggest that while people form impressions of 

younger persons on a wide variety of characteristics (sex, occupation, ethnicity), these 

distinctive categories are ignored when forming impressions of older adults, and the 

stereotypes (mental weakness, contrariness, physical frailty) associated with age tend to 

dominad9 One study of physician attitude noted that 67 percent of physicians interviewed 

attributed noncompliance primarily to the patient's uncooperative personality80 

The physician-patient encounter is a situation in which patients must learn a very specific role 

and set of expectations about: 

the purpose of the medication; 

which medication should be taken; 

how long each medication should be taken; and 

the dosage schedule that should be followed.81 

In Svarstaad's study on physician-patient interaction it was evident that physicians frequently 

did not discuss their expectations in an explicit manner. Of the 347 medications prescribed 

during the course of that study: 

Seventeen percent were never discussed at all. 

In only ten percent of the cases were patients told how long to take the medication. 

Dosage schedules were discussed ambiguously-'Take two capsules every four 

hours"--without specifying how many should be taken in a twentyTfour hour period. 

Patients were not always given printed or written instructions for proper use of 

medications. 
During the patient interviews of this same study, many misconceptions were discovered. 

Fifty-two percent of the patients made at least one error when describing the physician's 

expectations. For example, patients who had been prescribed anti-hypertension medication 

sometimes thought the medication was for the relief of other ailments such as low back pain 

or asthmag2 

The traditional physician-patient encounter is ill-suited for learning to take place. 

The encounter is perhaps the most anxiety-laden of all lay-expert consultations. 

Too much information is often transmitted in too short a time. 

A potentially upsetting diagnosis and advice may disrupt learning. 

Traditional learning tools, such as notetaking, are not used. 

The patient's abili to learn can also be hampered by the physician's use of 

%3 technical language. 

Older patients are often reticent to ask questions of their physicians perhaps , because of: 

respect for professional autharity; 

fear of looking unintelligent or unsophisticated; or 

anxiety about the medical condition. 

Furthermore, physicians rarely invite questions fi-om patients regarding proposed medication 

therapy.u 

A Food and Drug Administration survey of physicians discovered that 79 percent feel they 

spend the right amount of time discussing medication therapy with their patients, and 32 

percent feel their patients are very well informed about prescribed medications. An additional 

, 56 percent feel their patients are adequately informed. 

Seventy-two percent of the physicians feel that patients frequently discontinue taking 

medication. However, only seven percent of physicians surveyed who prescribe antibiotics 

tell their patients to finish the medication. 

Twenty percent of the physicians surveyed said that sharing of medications is a problem, but 

only three percent of the physicians who prescribe tranquilizers tell their patients not to share 

the medication. 

No physicians who prescribe thiazides (anti-hypertension medication) report that they tell 

their patients the therapy is long-term or permanent. 85 
The small percentage of physicians in the survey who feel that they don't spend enough time 

discussing medications with their patients cite practice demands and limited time. Physicians 

see an average of three patients per hour. Physicians who are high prescribers are more likely 

to use supplemental education materials such as brochures or pamphlets to explain 

rnedication~.~~ 

Role of the Pharmacist: One study discovered discrepancies between what the physician 

wanted on the label and the information the pharmacist actually printed on the label in 20 

percent of 179 prescriptions studied. Types of discrepancies most commonly found were: 

The condition or symptom(s) to be treated were either omitted or incorrect. 

The label omitted the physician's individualized instructions for frequency or 

amount of dose. 

' The label did not include a language translation for foreign speaking patients.87 

In regard to patient interaction, pharmacists who were surveyed indicated that: 

Seventy-nine percent would like to have more time for patient consultation. 

Limited time and practice demands are responsible for the lack of patient 

consultation. Pharmacists dispense seven to nine prescriptions per hour. 

Forty-five percent of pharmacists say patient questions interrupt their work not at 

all, and an additional 26 percent say patient questions intempt their work just a 

little. So, while pharmacists do not often offer information voluntarily, they do not 

seem to feel that patients' questions are an imposition on their time. 

Ninety-six percent report that they provide auxili labels on prescriptions and 69 "$ percent provide pamphlets for certain medications. 

Patient Expectations and Attitude: The AARP survey of Americans over 45 years of age 

discovered that 69 percent of re ondents go frst to their physicians when they have questions 

about prescription medications! However, the FDA survey of physicians found that 38 

percent of physicians screen out most or all calls about medi~ations.~ 

Twenty-five percent of respondents to the AARP survey turn to their pharmacists for 

information, and a small percent use books or other reference materials to get their 

information about medications?' 
Forty-nine percent of the over-65 age group report that they never ask their doctors or 

pharmacists questions about medications. Respondents in general, and especially the over-65 

age group, report dissatisfaction about the information they receive from both their physicians 

and pharmacists about: 

the name and purpose of the medication; 

how and when to take the medication; 

whether adverse effects are a possibility; 

whether side effects are a possibility; 

what the storage requirements are; 

how many refills are required; and 

whether there are alternative therapies for the condition?' 

Finally, over 45 percent of the above-65 respondents report that their physicians and 

pharmacists do not ask them what prescription and nonprescription medications they are 

taking before writing or filling a prescription. 93 . 

The complex nature of the medication compliance issue suggests that there are not likely to be 

any quick or simple remedies for this problem94 A number of suggestions have been offered 

by various researchers. Haynes has pointed out that any efforts to improve compliance should 

target only treatments for which there is reasonable evidence of therapeutic efficacy?5 

Educating Patients and Health Care Providers 

PhysiciadPharmacist Level: Patient education has been suggested as a primary means of 

improving patient compliance, and has been shown to be successful in many cases. However, 

as Falvo has pointed out, patient education is not simply repeating directions or handing out 

printed materials. It is a process involving skill in data gathering; individualization of 

instructions; prompting and support; and evaluation and follow-up of the patient's success in 

implementing the treatment regimeng6 Furthermore, the patient must be involved in 

designing any intervention to improve his compliance. Only when the patient has been 

allowed to express his or her point of view can the health care provider best decide what 

strategies will be most appropriate to improve compliance. 

Meichenbaum has suggested that when health professionals view patient education as a 

process rather than a single intervention, -they may fear that the process will become too time 

consuming. However, the process of patient education, if incorporated into the daily 

interactions of each patient encounter, can actually save time by increasing patient 
compliance. Fewer calls or visits to the physician or pharmacist, as well as other benefits of 

compliance such as avoiding hospitalization, may result if proper educational techniques are 

employed early in the therapy?' Studies have shown that compliance-improving programs 98 have cost5enefit ratios as high as 1: 14. 

Public Education Programs: There are currently many programs for informing and 

educating elderly patients about medication issues. Some of the better known programs are: 

The Elder-Ed and Elder Health Programs conducted by the University of 

Maryland's School of Pharmacy: In the Elder-Ed program retired pharmacists are 

teamed with pharmacy students to provide counseling to senior citizens in group 

settings. Within the Elder-Health Program, pharmacy students are required to form 

a relationship with an elderly patient. The student visits the elderly patient 

periodically to help educate the patient about medications. In this way the student 

learns fmt-hand some of the problems elderly people face with medication 

regimens. 

The San Francisco SRx (Senior Medication Program): Sponsored in part by the 

San Francisco Department of Health, SRx involves pharmacies in community 

outreach programs to inform and educate elderly people about their medication 

regimens. 

The National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA): The Institute developed a film and 

a booklet about the elderly and medication issues. These are distributed to State 

agencies involved in prevention of medication abuse. 

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP): Among other activities, 

AARP developed, with the help of the FDA, patient package inserts known as 

MILS (medication information leaflets for seniors) which contain information 

about medications and their proper use. The MILS are distributed with over 90 

percent of medications dispensed through the AARP's mail-order pharmacy 

service. 

The National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE): The 

Council employs public service announcements, education campaigns, and special 

events such as the "Talk About Prescription Month" to raise public awareness 

about problems associated with prescription med@ation~?~ 

Using Compliance Aids 

It has been suggested that various electronic and mechanical devices called "compliance aids" 

might help to improve compliance.100 There are a wide range of compliance aids available, 

from simple charts to record and remind patients of medication use, to sophisticated 

micro-electronic bottle caps that have alarms and flashing indicators to alert a patient when a 
dose is due. Compliance aids can range in price from a few cents for a chart to fifteen dollars 

for a micro-electronic cap. Such aids may be useful for patients with memory impairments or 

patients on a complex medication regimen. 

Other strategies and mechanisms proposed to improve patient compliance include: 

providing reminder cards for refills;. 

providing written or printed information that is easy to read (large type); 

keeping medication histories; 

using large type and specifying instructions on prescription labels; never writing 

"take as directed;" 

simplifying the regimen as much as possible; 

involving family members in support and/or supervisory roles; and 

demonstrating the proper technique for using a medication application apparatus. 

Compliance Can Be Improved 

Green et al. conducted a quantitative review of 10 experimental studies specifically addressing 

the elderly with education and behavioral interventions designed to improve medication 

compliance. They discovered that all methods, with the exception of written materials used 

alone, were effective in significantly and substantially improving lcnowledge of medication 

use, and decreasing the incidence of error. 101 

However, strategies employed to improve patient compliance have been shown to be effective 

only insofar as they are matched to individual patient necds.lo2 
APPENDIX A 

Office of Inspector General Studies of Elderly Medication Issues 

Studies Completed . Request Report Number 

Medicare Drug Utilization Review 01-88-00980 

Physician Drug Dispensing 01-88-00590 

Implications of the Medicare Prescription Drug 

Benefit's Electric Claims Processing System 

State Discipline of Pharmacists 01 -89-89020 

The Clinical Role of the Community Pharmacist 01-89-89160 

The Clinical Role of the Community Pharmacist: Case Studies ,: 01-89-89161 

Studies Underway 

Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting System 

Studies Planned 

Prescription Drug Advertising 
APPENDIX B 

- ENDNOTES 

'M. H. Becker and I. M. Rosenstock, "Compliance with Medical Advice," In A. Steptoe and 

A. Matthews, eds., Health Care and Human Behavior (New York: Academic Press, 1984). As 

cited in Meichenbaum, Facilitating Treatment Adherence. 

2~. S Congress, Office of Technology Assessment, Health Program, "Prescription Drugs and 

Elderly Americans: Ambulatory Use and Approaches to Medicare," Staff Paper, October, 1987. 

3~ureau of the Census, Cumnt Population Reports, Series P-25, No. 1018, Projections of the 

Population of the United States, by Age, Sex, and Race: 1988-2080, by Gregory Spencer, U. 

S. Government Printing Office, Washington D. C., 1989. 

4~ational Center for Health Statistics, Health in the Later Years of Life: Datafmm the 

National Center for Health Statistics, (Washington D. C.: U. S. Goverhnent Printing Office, 

1971). As cited in Phyllis Amaral, "The Special Case of Compliance in the Elderly," in 

Kenneth Gerber and Alexis Nehemkis, eds., Compliance: The Dilemma of the Chronically Ill, 

(New York: Springer, 1986). 

5~~nald Meichenbaum and Dennis C. Turk, Facilitating Treatment Adherence: A 

Practitioner's Guidebook, (New York: Plenum Press, 1987). 

V. Lundin, "Medication Taking Behavior and the Elderly: A Pilot Study," Drug 

Intelligence and Clinical Phamcy 12 (1978): 518-22. 

'c. R. Smith, ''Use of Drugs in the Aged," John Hopkins Medical Jourml, 145, no. 2 (1979): 

61-64. 

 rank Ascione, et at, "Seniors and Pharmacists: Improving the Dialogue," American 

Pharmacist 5 (May 1980): 30-32. 

'peter P. Lamy, Drug Use in the Geriatric Population: Problems and Approaches, Draft 

Manuscript [Baltimore 19891. 

'O~merican Association of Retired Persons, "Cuts in Social Security Cost-of-Living 

Adjustments (COLAS): Impact Analysis," Unpublished, 1985. As cited in Off~ce of 

Technology Assessment, "Ambulatory Use and Approaches to Coverage for Medicare." 
"~h~llis Amaral, 'The Special Case of Compliance in the Elderly," In Kenneth Gerber and 

Alexis Nehemkis, eds., Compliance: The Dilemma of the Chronically Ill, (New York: 

Springer, 1986). 

12R. N. Podell and L. R. Gary, "Compliance: A Problem in Medical Management," American 

Family Physician 13 (1976): 74-80. As cited in Donald Meichenbaum and Dennis Turk, 

Facilitating Treatment Adherence. 

13~merican Association of Retired sons, Prescription Drugs: A Survey of Consumer Use, 

Attitudes and Behavior, (Washington D. C.: AARP, 1984). 

14c. J. Latiolas and C. C. Beny, 'Uisuse of Prescription Medications by Outpatients," Drug 

Intelligence and Clinical Phamcy 3 (1969): 270-77. 

 oris is Schwartz, et al., "Medication Emors Made by Elderly Chronically Ill Patients," 

American Journal of Public Health 52, no. 12 (Dee. 1962): 2018-2019. 

"~onald Meichenbaum and Dennis Tmk, Facilitating Treatwent Adherence. 

"R. Brian Haynes, et al., "How to Detect and Manage Low Patient Compliance in Chronic 

Illness," Geriatrics 355 (1980): 91-97. As cited in Helene Levens Lipton, "Elderly Patients 

and Their Pills: The Role of Compliance in Safe and Effective Drug Use," Pride Institute 

Journal of Long Term Home Health Care 8, no. 1 (Winter 1989): 26-3 1. 

18~ale B.Christensen, "Drug-taking Compliance: A Review and Synthesis," Health Services 

Research (Summer 1978). And R. Brian Haynes, D. Wayne Taylor, and David L. Sackett, 

Compliance in Health Care (Baltimore: John Hopkins UP, 1979). And Donald Meichenbaum 

and Dennis Turk, Facilitating Treatment Adherence. 

"E. Roy Hammarlund, Jana R. Osmm, and Alice J. Kethley, 'The Effects of Drug 

Counseling and Other Education Strategies on Drug Utilization of the Elderly," Medical Care 

23, no. 2 (Feb. 1985): 165-170. 

20~eter Pa Lamy, "Drug Use and the Elderly: Some Observations and Recommendations," 

The Maryland Pharmacist 64, no. 3 (March 1988): 12. 

21~. R. Strandberg, "Drugs as a Reason for Nursing Home Admissions," American Health 

Care Association Journal 10. no. 4 (July 1984): 20. As cited in Mickey Smith, "The Cost of 

Noncompliance and the Capacity of Improved Compliance to Reduce Health Care 

Expenditures," in National Pharmaceutical Council, "Improving Patient Compliance: 

Proceedings of a Symposium," (Reston, VA: NPC, 1984). 
*H. Graham and B. Livesley, "Can Readmissions to a Geriatric Medical Unit Be Prevented?" 

Lancet 1 (1983): 404-406. And, P. A. Frisk, J. W. Cooper, and N. A. Campbell, 

"Community-Hospital Pharmacist Detection of Drug-related Problems upon Patient 

Admission to Small Hospitals," Am Journal of Hospital Phamcy 35 (1977): 738-742. As 

cited in Helene Levens Lipton, "Elderly Patients and Their Pills." . 

23~. J.McKenney and W. L. Harrison, "Drug-related Hospital Admissions," American Journal 

of Hospital Pharmacy 33 no. 8 (1976): 792. 

24~onna Falvo, Effective Patient Education: A Guide to Increased Compliance (Rockville, 

MD: Aspen Systems Corp., 1985). 

25~ohn Urquhart, "Drug Delivery Technology and Patient Compliance for New Products," 

Paper presented at The Conference on Advanced Therapeutics: Overcoming End User 

Barriers. Co-sponsered by the National Pharmaceutical Council and Frost and Sullivan, 

Baltimore, April 17-1 8,1989. 

%ohn Urquhart, "Noncompliance: The Ultimate Absoption BamerYwPaper pesented at The 

Third International Conference on Drug Absorption, Edinburgh, Sept. 27-30, 1988. 

27~eichenbaum, Facilitating Treatment Adherence. 

2B~elene Levens Lipton, "Elderly Patients and Their Pills: The Role of Compliance in Safe 

and Effective Drug Use," Pride Institute Journal of Long Term Home Health Care 8, no. 1 

(Winter 1989): 26-3 1. 

2g~awrence Green* Patricia Mullen and Gene Stainbrook, "Programs to Reduce Drug Errors 

in the Elderly: Direct and Indirect Evidence from Patient Education," in National 

Pharmaceutical Council, "Improving Patient Compliance: Promdings of a Symposium," 

(Reston, VA: NPC, 1984). r 

30~ma.al, "The Special Case of Compliance in the Elderly," in Gerber and Nehemkis, eds., 

Compliance: The Dilemma of the Chronically Ill. 

31~. M. Genensky and S. H. Zarrit, "Comprehensive Program of Low Vision Services," In A. 

A. Rosenbloom and M. Morgan, eds., Vision and Aging: General and Clinical Perspectives 

(Chicago: The Professional Press, 1987). As cited in Amaral, "The Special Case of 

Compliance." 

33~maral, "The Special Case of Compliance." 
34~ational Center for Health Statistics, C. A. Shoenbom and M. Marano, 1988. "Current 

Estimates from the National Health Inte~ew Survey: United States 1987," Vital and Health 

Statistics Series 10, No. 166. DHHS Pub. No. (PHs) 88-1594. Public Health Service, 

Washington D. C.: Government Printing Office. 

35~elene Levens Lipton, Statement on "Drug Misuse Among the Elderly and Its Impact on 

Community Based Care," before the U. S. House of Representatives, Subcommittee on 

Human Services, Select Committee on Aging, April 19,1989. 

37~ale B.Christensen, "Drug-taking Compliance: A Review and Synthesis," Health Services 

Research Summer, 1978. 

38~eichenbaum and Turk, Facilitating Treamnz Adherence. 

39~. Brian Haynes, 'The Determinants of Compliance: The Disease and the Mechanics of 

Treatment," in R Brian Haynes, D. Wayne Taylor, and David L. Sackett, Compliance In 

Health Care (Baltimore: John Hopkins UP, 1979). 

40~eichenbaum, Facilitating Treatment Adherence. 

4%3. Leventhal and D. R. Nerenz, "A Model of Stress Research with some Implications for the 

Control of Stress Disorders," In D. Meichenbaum and M. Jarenko, eds., Stress Reduction and 

Prevention (New York: Plenum Press, 1983). As cited in Meichenbaum. 

43~elene Levens Lipton, Statement on "Drug Misuse Among the Elderly and Its Impact on 

Community Based Care," before the U. S. House of Representatives, April 19,1989. 

44Amaral, "The Special Case of Compliance." 

45~. Blazer and C. Williams, "Epidemiology of Dysphoria and Depression in an Elderly 

Population," American Journal of Psychiatry 134, no. 4 (1980): 439-444. As cited in Amaral. 

46~matal, *me special case of Com~liance.~ 

47~eter P. Lamy, Drug Use in the Geriatric Population: Problems and Approaches. 

48~. H. Zarrit, "Affective Carelates of Self-Reports About Memory of Older People," 

International Journal of Behavioral Geriatrics 1 (1982): 25-34. As cited in Amaral. 
49~eichenbaum, Facilitating Treatment Adherence. 

50~hristensen, "Drug-Toking Compliance: A Review and Synthesis." 

51~ureau of the Census, Statistical Abstract of the United States: 1989, (109th ed.) 

Washington D. C.: Government Printing Office, 1989. 

52~maral, "The Special Case of Compliance." 

54~elene Levens Lipton, "Elderly Patients and Their Pills: The Role of Compliance in Safe 

and Effective Drug Use," 

5S~elene Lcvens Lipton, Statement before the U. S. House of Rep~sentatives, April 19,1989. 

58~ederal Council on Aging, U. S. Dept of Health and Human Services, The Need for 

Long-Term Care, Information and Issues, DHHS Pub. No. (OHDS) 81-20704 (Washington D. 

C.: Government Printing Office, 198 1). As cited in Amaral. 

.59~adeleine Feinberg, "Polymedicine and the Elderly: Is it Avoidable?" Pride Institute of 

Long Tern Home Health Care 8, no. 1 (Winter 1989): 15-25. 

60~merican Association of Retired Persons, Statement on "Drug Misuse Among the Elderly 

and Its hpact on Community Based Care." Presented by Dr. Monroe Gilrnour before the U. 

S. House of Representatives Select Committee on Aging, Subcommittee on Human Services, 

April 19,1989. 

61~ BrianHaynes, "Determinants of Compliance." 

63~eteran's Administration Cooperative Study Group on Anti-hypertensive Agents, "Effens of 

Treatment on Morbidity in Hypertension. III) Influence of Age, Diastolic Pressure and Prior 

Cardiovascular Disease; Further Analysis of Side Effects," Circulation 45 (1972): 991-1004. 

As cited in Haynes, "Determinants of Compliance." 
@AARP, Prescription Drugs: A Survey of Consumer Use, Attitudes and Behavior 

(Washington D. C.: AARP, 1984). 

65~. F. Tempem, "Biological Variability and hug Response Variability as Factors Influencing 

Patient Compliance: Implications for Drug Testing and Evaluation," In Ivan Barofsky, ed., 

Medication Compliance: A Behavioral Management Approach omfare, N. J.: Charles B. 

Slack, Inc., 1977). 

66~eter P. Lamy, "Non-prescription (OTQ Drugs and the Elderly," The Mayland Pharmacist 

64 (Sept. 1988): 9-14. 

67~. Closson and C. Kukugawa, "Noncompliance Varies with Drug Class," Hospitals 49 

(1975): 89-93. As cited in Haynes, "Determinants of Compliance." 

6%. W. Buckalew and R. E. Sallis, "Patient Compliance and Medication Perception,'' Journal 

of Clinical Psychiatry 142 (1986): 244-45. As cited in Meichenbaum, Facilitating Treatment 

Adherence. 

69~. L. Bootman, "Maximizing Compliance in the Elderly," Phamcy Proctice for the 

~eriatric Patient, Health Sciences Consortium, Carrboro N. C., 1985. 

70~hristensen, "Drug-taking Compliance: A Review and Synthesis." 

l~eichcnbaum, Facilitating Treatment Adherence. 

72~. Hulka, J. CasseI, L. Kupper, "Communication, Compliance, and Concordence Between 

Physicians and Patients with Prescribed Medicines," American Jownol of Public Health 66 

(1976). 

73~. Jemigan, "Update on Drugs in the Elderly," American Family Physician 29, no. 4 (April 

1984): 23847. 

74~any Blackwell, "The Drug Regimen and Treatment Compliance," In Haynes, Sackett and 

Taylor, Compliance in Health Care. 

7slrving Kenneth %la, 'Taking Your Medication - Problem for Doctor or Patient?" in 

Barofsky, Medication Compliance. 

76~. Bmlq and R Gillum, ''The Diagnosis and Management of Patient Compliance," 

Journal of the American Medical Association 228 (1974): 1563-67. 

77~avid L. Sackett and John C. Snow, 'The Magnitudt of Compliance and Noncompliance," 

In Haynes, Compliance in Health Care. 
78~. R.Smith, "Use of Drugs in the Aged," John Hopkm Medical Journal 145, no. 2 (1979): 

6 1-64, 

79~. N. Basil and J. E. Red, "On the Dominance of the Old Age Stereotype," Journal of 

Gerontology 36. no. 6 (1981): 682-88. As cited in Amaral, "The Special Case of Compliance." 

80~. S. Davis, "Variatiims in Patients' Compliance with Doctors' Orders," Journal of Medical 

Education 41 (1966): 1037-1048. As cited in Zola, 'Taking Your Medication." 

81~onnie Svarstaad, "Physician-Patient Communication and Patient Conformity with Medical 

Advice," In David Mechanic, ed, The Growth of Bureaucratic Medicine: An Inquiry into the 

Dynamics of Patient Behavior and the Organization of Medical Care (New York: John Wiley 

and Sons, 1976). 

83~avid C. Jenkins, "Cultural Differences in Concepts of Disease and How These Affect 

Health Behavior," In Barofsky, Medication Compliance. 

84Helene Levens Lipton, Statement before the U. S. House of Representatives. 

"~ood and Drug Administration, "Patient Information and Prescription Drugs: Pdel 

Surveys of Physiciaiu and Pharmacists," Study no. 8 12020, March 1883. 

'hid. 

87~varstaad, "Physician-Patient Communication." 

88FD~, "Patient Information and Prescription Drugs." 

89~, Prescription Drugs: A Survey of Consumer Use, Attitudes and Behavior. 

'%A, "Patient Information and Prescription Drugs." 

' 'AARP, Prescription Drugs. 

92~bid. 

93~ici. 

94~eichenbaum, Facilitating Treatment Adherence. 
"R. Brian Haynes, "Strategies to Improve Compliance with Refcwls, Appointments, and 

Prescribed Medicine Regimens," In Haynes, Compliance in Health Care. 

9%v0, Efective Patient Education. 

97~eichenbaum, Facilitating. 

98Mickey Smith, ''The Cost of Noncompliance and the Capacity of Improved Compliance to 

Reduce Health Care Costs," in National Pharmaceutical Council, "Improving Medication 

Compliance: Pr&eedings of a Symposium," (Reston, VA: NPC, 1984): 35-44. 

"~elene Levens Lipton and Phillip R. Lee, Drugs and the Elderly: Clinicaly Social, and 

Policy Perspectives, (Stanford, CA: Stanford UP, 1988). 

'%amy, "Drug Use and the Elderly: Some Observations and Recommendations," The 

Maryland Phunnacist 64, no. 3 (March 1988): 10- 15. 

'O1&een, Mullen and Stainbrook, "Programs to Reduce Drug Enors in the Elderly." 

'O2~rnaral, "The Special Case of Compliance." 
APPENDIX C 

'COMPLIANCE ISSUES 

Selected Bibliography 

American Association of Retired Persons. Health Care in America: Views and Eaperiences of 

Mawe Adults Survey prepared and conducted by Hamilton, Frederick, and Schneider. 

(Washington D. C.: AARP, 1987). 

- .Prescription Drugs: A Survey of CO~UIZU!~ Use, Attitudes, and Behavio,: (Washington D. C.: AARP, 1984). 

- .Statement on "Drug Misuse Among the Elderly and Its Impact on Communtity-Based Care." Presented by Dr. Monroe Gilmour before the U.S. House of Representatives 

Select Committee on Aging, Subcommittee on Human Services. April 19,1989. 

American Pharmaceutical Association. Statement on "Medication Use and Misuse in the 

Elderly." Presented by C. Edwin Webb, Pharm.D. before the U.S. House of 

Representatives Select Committee on Aging, Subcommittee on Human Services. April 

19, 1989. 

Ascione, Frank J. and Leslie A. Shimp. "The Effectiveness of Four Education Strategies in the - 

Elderly." Drug Intelligence and Clinical Phunnacy 18 (Nov. 1984): 926-31. 

Ascione, Frank J., M. James, S. Austin and L. Shimp. "Seniors and Pharmacists: Improving 

the Dialogue." Am Phm 5 (May 1980): 30-32. 

Bachman, Robert M. "Priorities and Approaches for Improving Medication Compliance by 

Older Americans." U. S. Pharmacist, Special Supplement. Rutgers Pharmaceutical 

Conference. Patient Compliance: Better Health Care and Lower Costs. 36th Annual 

Conference. 

Barofsky, Ivan, ed Medication Compliance: A Behavioral Management Approach. 

(Thorofare, N. J.: Charles B. Slack, Inc., 1977). 

Blackwell, Barry. "Commentary: The Drug Defaulter." Clinical Pharmacology and 

Therapeutics 13, no. 6 (Nov. - Dec. 1972): 841 -48. 

Boyd, James R., Tim R. Covington, Walter F. Stanas& and Timothy Coussons. "Drug 

Defaulting part ii: Analysis of Noncompliance Patterns." American Journal of Hospital ' 

Pharmucy 3 1 (May 1974): 485-91. 
Brown, Judith. "&scription Drug Costs for Older Americans." American Association of 

Retired Persons, Public Policy Institute, Issue Brief. March 1987. 

Christensen, Dale B. "Drug-taking Compliance: A Review and Synthesis." Health Services 

Research (Summer 1978). 8 

Cramer, Joyce A., Joseph F. Collins, and Richard H. Mattson. "Can Categorization of Patient 

Background Be Used to Determine Early Termination in a Clinical Trial?" Controlled 

Clinical Trials 9 (1988): 47-63. 

Cramer, Joyce A. and Michael L. Russell. "Strategies to Enhance Adherence to a Medical - 

Regimen." In D. Schmidt and I. E. Leppek, eds. Compliance in Epilepsy (Amsterdam: 

Elsevier, 1988). 

Deyo, Richard, Thomas S. Inui, and Barbara Sullivan. "Noncompliance with Arthritis Drugs: 

Magnitude, Comlates, and Clinical Implications." Journal ofRheumatology 8, no. 6 

(1981): 931-936. 

Epstein, Leonard H. and Bruce J. Masek. "Behavorial Control of Medicine Compliance." 

Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis 11, no. 1 (Spring 1978): 1-9. 

Eraker, Stephen A,, John P. Kirscht and Marshall H. Becker. "Understanding and Improving 

Patient Compliance." Annals of Internal Medicine 100 (1 984): 258-68. 

Falvo, Donna R. Eflective Patient Education: A Guide to Increased Compliance. (Rockville, 

MD: Aspen Systems Corp., 1985). 

Feinberg, Madeline. "Polymedicine and the Elderly: Is it Avoidable?" Pride Institute Journal 

ofLong Tern Home Health Care 8, no. 1 (Winter 1989): 15-25. 

Gerber, Kenneth E. and Alexis N. Nehemkis, eds. Compliance: The Dilemma of the 

Chronically Ill. (New York: Springer, 1986) 

German, Pearl S., Lawrence E. Klein, Stephen J. McPhee, and Craig R. Smith. "Knowledge of 

and Compliance with Drug Regimens in the Elderly." Journal of the American Geriatrics 

Society 30 (Sept. 1982): 568-71. 

Green, Lawrence W., Patricia D. Mullen and Gene L. Stainbrook. "Programs to Reduce Drug 

Errors in the Elderly: Direct and Indirect Evidence fiom Patient Education." National 

Pharmaceutical Council (NPC), "Improving Medication Compliance: Proceedings of a 

Symposium." (Reston, VA: NPC, 1984). Also in Journal of Geriatric Drug Therapy 1 

(Fall, 1986): 3-18. 
Greenberg, Richard N. "Overview of Patient Compliance with Medication Dosing: A 

Literature Review." Clinical Therapeutics 6 (1984): 592-99. 

Hammarlund, E. Roy, Jana R Ostrom, and Alice J. Kethley. "The Effects of Drug Counseling 

and Other Educational Strategies on Drug Utilization of the Elderly." Medical Care 23, 

no. 2 (Feb. 1985): 165-70. 

Haynes, .R. Brian, D. Wayne Taylor, and David L. Sackett. Compliance In Health Care. 

(Baltimore: John Hopkins UP, 1979). 

Haynes, R. Brian, David L. Sackett, D. Wayne Taylor, Robin S. Robins, and Arnold L. 

Johnson. "Manipulation of the Therapeutic Regimen to Improve Compliance: 

Conceptions and Misconceptions." Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics 22, no. 2 

(August 1977): 125- 130. 

Lamy, Peter P. Dmg Use in the Geriatric Population: Problems and Approaches. Draft 

Manuscript. Daltimore: 19891. 

- . "Drug Use and the Elderly: Some Observations and Recommendations." The Maryland 

Pharmacist 64, no. 3 (March 1988): 10-15. 

- . "Non-prescription (OTC) Drugs and the Elderly." The Maryland Pharmackt 64, no. 9 

(Sept. 1988): 9-14. 

- . Prescribing for the Elderly. (Littleton, MA: PSG Publishing, 1980). 

Levy, Susan M. "Making the Most of Medications: Patient Compliance and You." Medical 

Times 114, no. 10 (Oct. 1986): 61-66. 

I Lipton, Helene-Levens and Philip R Lee. Drugs and the Elderb: Clinical, Social, and Policy 

Perspectives. (Stanford ,CA: Stanford UP, 1988). 

Lipton, Helene Levens. "El&rIy Patients and Their Pills: The Role of Compliance in Safe and 

Effective Drug Use." Pride Institute Journal of Long Term Home Health Care 8, no. 1 

(Winter 1989): 26-31. 

- . Statement on "Drug Misuse Among the Elderly and Its Impact on Community Based 

Care." before the U.S. House of Representatives Select Committee on Aging, 

Subcommittee on Human Services. April 19,1989. 

Marston, Mary-'Vesta. "Compliance with Medical Regimens: A Review of the Literature." 

Nursing Research 19, no. 4 (July-Aug. 1970): 3 12-23. 
McKenney, T. J. and W. L. Harrison. "Drug-related Hospital Admissions." American Journal 

of Hospital Phannacy 33, no. 8 (1976). 

Mechanic, David. The Growth of Bureaucratic Medicine: An Inquiry into the Dynamics of 

Patient Behavior and the Organization of Medical Care. (New York: John Wiley and 

Sons, 1976). 

Meichenbaum, Donald and Dennis C. Turk. Facilitating Treament Adherence: A 

Practitioner's Guidebook. (New York: Plenum Press, 1987). 

Mendelson, Marilyn A. "Drug-Regimen Review and Postmarketing Surveillance: Research 

Links to Consultant Pharmacy." The Consultant Phcumacist (July-Aug. 1988): 313-19. 

Miller, Roger W. "Doctors, Patients Don't Communicate." FDA Consumer. July/Aug. 1983. 

DHHS Pub. No. 83-1102. (Washington D. C.: Government Printing Office, 

1983-381-173-34). 

. . 

Murray, Michael D., Jeffkey Darnell, Morris Weinberger, and B. L. Martz. "Factors 

Contributing to Medication Noncompliance in Elderly Public Housing Tenants." Drug 

Intelligence and Clinical Phannacy 20 (Feb. 1986): 146-52. 

National Center for Health Statistics, C. A. Schoenborn and M. Marano. "Current Estimates 

from the National Health Interview Survey: United States, 1987" Vital and Health 

Statistics Series 10, No. 166, DHHS Pub. No. (PHs) 88-1594. (Washington D. C.: 

Government Printing Office, 1988). 

National Council on Patient Information and Education. Resources for "Talk About 

Prescriptions" Month (Washington D.C.: NCPIE, Oct. 1988). 

- . Priorities and Approaches for Improving Prescription Medicine Use By Older 

Americans (Washington D.C.: NCPIE, Oct 1987). 

National Data Corp. Statement on "Drug Abuse Among the Elderly." Presented by Mark L. 

Braunstein, M.D. before the U.S. House of Representatives Select Committee on Aging, 

Subcommittee on Human Services. April 19,1989. 

National Pharmaceutical Council, Inc. "Misuse of Prescription Medications: Costs and 

Strategies for Prevention." Executive Summary, Orlando, FL: Oct. 1 8,1988. 

- . "Improving Medication Compliance: Proceedings of a Symposium." (Reston, VA: 

NPC, 1984). 
Orr, Mildred C. and James H. Sanders, Jr. "Reducing Polypharmacy in the Nursing Home." 

North Carolim Medical Journal 49, no. 1 (Jan. 1988): 41-45. 

Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association. Statement on "Drug Abuse and the Elderly." 

Presented by John F. Beary III, M.D., Senior Vice President of Science and Technology, 

before the U. S. House of Representatives Select Committee on Aging, Subcommittee on 

Human Se~ces. April 19,1989. 

Schwartz, Doris, Mamie Wang, Leonard Zeitz, and Mary E. W. Goss. "Medication Errors 

Made By Elderly Chronically Ill Patients." American Journal of Public Health 52, no. 12 

(Dec. 1962): 2018-2029. 

Sharpe, Thomas R. and Robert L. Mikeal. "Patient Compliance with Antibiotic Regimens." 

American Journal of Hospital Pharmacy 3 1 (May 1974): 479-84. 

Smith, Mickey. "The Cost of Noncompliance and the Capacity of Improved Compliance to 

Reduce Health Care Expenditures." In National Pharmaceutical Council. "Improving 

Medication Compliance: Proceedings of a Symposium." (Reston, VA: NPC, 1984). 

S teckel, Susan Boehm. "Predicting, Measuring, Implementing and Following Up on Patient 

Compliance." Nursing Clinics of North America 17, no. 3 (Sept. 1982): 491-498. 

S toller, Eleanor Palo. "Prescribed and Over-the-Counter Medicine Use by the Ambulatory 

Elderly." Medical Care 26, no. 12 @ec. 1988): 1149-57. 

U. S. Bureau of the Census. Statistical Abstract of the United States: 1989. (109th Edition) 

Washington D. C., 1989. 

U. S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment (Health Program). Prescription Drugs and 

Elderly Americans: Ambulatory Use and Approaches to Coverage for Medicare. Staff 

Paper. October, 1987. 

U. S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment Technology and Aging In America. 

OTA-B A-264. June, 1985. 

U. S. Food and Drug Administration. Statement by Commissioner Frank E. Young, M.D., 

before the U.S. House of Representatives Select Committee on Aging, Subcommittee on 

Human Services. April 19,1989. 

- . Louis Morris, Ruth Grossman, Gerald Barkdoll, and Evelyn Gordon. "A National Survey 

of Prescription Drug Information Provided to Patients." Survey conducted by Westat 

Corp. OPE Study 73. May 20,1986. 
- . Louis Moms and Steven Moore. "Patient Infoxmation and Prescription Drugs: Parallel 

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