Refill rate of antipsychotic drugs: an easy and inexpensive method to monitor patients' compliance by using computerised pharmacy data.

摘要: SUMMARY Purpose In the literature, noncompliance to medication in patients with schizophrenia ranges from 20 89%. There is an urgent need for reliable and valid techniques that measure compliance antipsychotic drug treatment. this study, we use pharmacy-dispensing records assess by calculating refill rate of medication. Methods Refill rates chronic users 1999 2000 were established dividing number prescribed days total calendar patient was registered a pharmacy prescription database. Results More than 50% using show associated (0.9–1.1). The daily intakes divergent rate, more once dosing significantly elevated (p < 0.015). Conclusions valuable addition small arsenal objective measurement tools. It easy obtain inexpensive way estimate (non)compliance. We recommend future studies both mental physical disorders, order further specify actual value clinical practice. Copyright # 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.