Andy Fry and Julian Dixon presented during the Parenteral Drug Association's (PDA) Prefilled Syringes SIG in March 2011 on the hot topic of device usability and compliance.
It has been generally acknowledged for years that non-adherence rates for chronic illness regimens and for lifestyle changes are ∼ 50% Haynes et al (1979) Compliance in health care . Johns Hopkins University Press, 1979 Adherence to oral medications (e.g. sulfonylurea) in patients with type 2 diabetes = 53% - 67% when measured by electronic monitoring Paes et al (1997) Impact of dosage frequency on patient compliance. Diabetes Care 20:1512 -1517 Factors affecting adherence Demographic factors; poor education = reduced adherence Psychological factors; patients adhere well when treatment makes sense to them, when it seems effective Social factors; robust social support (family, HCP) = better compliance Disease- and treatment-related factors; lower regimen adherence can be expected when a health condition is chronic Rheumatoid arthritis 30% - 35% complete compliance at 3 years [predominantly] on weekly oral methotrexate treatment Factors : “good compliance” factors: older age > female sex > decreased disability > +ve rel’ship with HCP > patient understanding of disease Viller et al (1999) Compliance to drug treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a 3 year longitudinal study. J Rheumatol 10: 2114-22 !!! “Unadjusted” (?) 4 year drug adherence rates for Humira adalimumab (i.e. autoinjector) = 52%; for infliximab (i.e infusion) = 41% … NICE DATA …showing improvement in compliance arguably due to delivery technology Hetland et (2010) ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM 62: 22–32 Osteoporosis 25%-35% complete compliance at 1 year on daily oral bisphosphonate therapy; rising to has 35% and 45% for weekly dosing Cramer et al (2007) A systematic review of persistence and compliance with bisphosphonates for osteoporosis. Osteoporos Int 18:1023–103 Factors: “ Wilful non-compliance”: adverse effects (e.g. gastric upset from an oral bisphosphonate) > psychological (low perceived risk of fracture / sceptical of effectiveness of medication) > treatment cost “ Unintentional non-compliance”: Lack of perceived ability to take the medication as prescribed > complex dosing schedules > lack of social support / aid their medication use activities > forgetting to take the medication Silvermann et al (2010) Oral bisphosphonate compliance and persistence: a matter of choice? Osteoporos Intenrational 22: 21-26