But some patients may need help figuring out what system works best for them. Some patients rely on electronic keychains that beep when it s time to take another dose. New paging devices go a step further and flash messages telling patients which pill to pop. And one of the newest devices is a pill bottle that can tell a patient how many times it has been opened that day. Later, when the bottle is connected to a computer, it indicates to practitioners and pharmacists how many times it has been opened in the past month.
Noncompliance cuts across all categories of patients and illnesses.
People with breast cancer, organ transplants, and hypertension, as well as people on a short course of antibiotics, can all forget to take their medications. Researchers have identified more than 200 variables that affect whether a patient will be compliant, according to Miller. Compliance rates are also likely to decline over time, especially for patients with asymptomatic diseases, she said. It s up to nurses and other healthcare professionals to examine the reasons patients may not be compliant, Schneider said. Simple forgetfulness can be a big factor in noncompliance.