Measuring Patient Adherence to Malaria Treatment: A Comparison of Results from Self-Report and a Customised Electronic Monitoring Device

摘要: Self-report is the most common and feasible method for assessing patient adherence to medication, but can be prone recall bias social desirability bias. Most studies artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) have relied on self-report. In this study, we use a novel customised electronic monitoring device-termed smart blister packs-to examine validity of self-reported artemether-lumefantrine (AL) in southern Tanzania. Smart packs were designed look identical locally available AL record date time each tablet was removed from packaging. Patients obtaining at randomly selected health facilities drug stores followed up home three days later interviewed about dose taken. Blister requested pill count extraction pack data. Data both self-report verified by 696 1,204 patients. There no difference between methods proportion patients assessed completed treatment (64% 67%, respectively). However, percentage taking correct number pills times (timely completion) higher than (37% vs. 24%; p<0.0001). By packs, 64% completing did not take per or interval. resulted lower estimates timely completion may less They useful when data patterns are desirable evaluate outcomes. Improved collecting needed minimise maximise comparability studies.