Adherence to medication in the community: Audit cycle of interventions to improve the assessment of adherence. (February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Farooq, Saeed; Choudry, Abid
• Is Part Of: BJPsych bulletin. Volume 41:Number 1(2017)
• Page Start: 41
• Page End: 44
• Publication Date: 2017-02
• Subjects: Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 616.8905
• DOI: 10.1192/pb.bp.115.053520
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2056-4694

Abstract

Abstract : Aims and method: To investigate whether medication adherence is monitored during follow-up in out-patient reviews. A retrospective audit was carried out with a sample of 50 follow-up patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Following this, interventions were made prior to the re-audit (including text messaging clinicians and prompt sheets in the out-patient department to encourage adherence discussions). Results: There was an improvement on all the standards set for this audit following the interventions. More doctors had discussed medication adherence (62% second cycle v. 50% first cycle) with their patient and there was increased discussion and documentation regarding medication side-effects (60% second cycle v. 30% first cycle). More clinicians discussed the response to medication (60% second cycle v. 46% first cycle). Clinical implications: Treatment adherence is not regularly monitored or recorded in clinical notes in routine psychiatric out-patient appointments. This highlights the need for regular training to improve practice.