Prescription Abandonment: Another Path to Medication Nonadherence
Authors: Michael D. Murray, Jeff Harrison
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2010)

Editorials16 November 2010Prescription Abandonment: Another Path to Medication NonadherenceMichael D. Murray, PharmD, MPH and Jeff Harrison, PhDMichael D. Murray, PharmD, MPHFrom Purdue University College of Pharmacy and Regenstrief Institute, Indianapolis, IN 46202, and University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. and Jeff Harrison, PhDFrom Purdue University College of Pharmacy and Regenstrief Institute, Indianapolis, IN 46202, and University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-153-10-201011160-00014 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Pharmacologic interventions are important and ubiquitous in modern health care. Whether a patient ultimately implements a treatment regimen depends on a complex mixture of physician decision making, the availability and affordability of the treatment, and the patient's willingness to obtain the treatment and use it as prescribed. Failure to obtain a prescribed medication from a pharmacy is a primary failure of treatment adherence. Several studies indicate that 17% to 20% of patients do not collect new prescriptions from pharmacies (1–3). In a study representing more than 80% of retail pharmacy prescriptions in the United States (4), patients abandoned 5.1% and ...References1. Shah NR, Hirsch AG, Zacker C, Wood GC, Schoenthaler A, Ogedegbe G, et al. Predictors of first-fill adherence for patients with hypertension. Am J Hypertens. 2009;22:392-6. [PMID: 19180061] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Karter AJ, Parker MM, Moffet HH, Ahmed AT, Schmittdiel JA, Selby JV. New prescription medication gaps: a comprehensive measure of adherence to new prescriptions. 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[PMID: 18365289] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From Purdue University College of Pharmacy and Regenstrief Institute, Indianapolis, IN 46202, and University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.Acknowledgment: The authors thank Ms. Lisa Marchino for assistance with this editorial.Grant Support: Dr. Harrison is the recipient of a New Zealand Fulbright Senior Scholar Award.Disclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M10-2262.Corresponding Author: Michael D. Murray, PharmD, MPH, Regenstrief Center for Health Care Improvement and Research, 1050 Wishard Boulevard, RG5, Indianapolis, IN 46202.Current Author Addresses: Dr. Murray: Regenstrief Center for Health Care Improvement and Research, 1050 Wishard Boulevard, RG5, Indianapolis, IN 46202.Dr. Harrison: School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoThe Epidemiology of Prescriptions Abandoned at the Pharmacy William H. Shrank , Niteesh K. Choudhry , Michael A. Fischer , Jerry Avorn , Mark Powell , Sebastian Schneeweiss , Joshua N. Liberman , Timothy Dollear , Troyen A. Brennan , and M. 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A simple question to predict interferon β-1a adherence in multiple sclerosisAssessmentSurveillance of medication use: early identification of poor adherenceForum 16 November 2010Volume 153, Issue 10Page: 680-681KeywordsData managementDrugsElderlyHealth careInformation storage and retrievalInformation technologyPatientsPharmacistsSafetyTreatment guidelines ePublished: 16 November 2010 Issue Published: 16 November 2010 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2010 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...