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- Friday, January 31, 2003
- Effect of “Polypharmacy” and “Frequency of Drug Dosing” on Rate of Compliance among Diabetic and Hypertensive Patients: A Survey Study in Palestine
- Published at:Not Found
Effect of “Polypharmacy” and “Frequency of Drug Dosing” on Rate of
Compliance among Diabetic and Hypertensive Patients: A Survey Study in Palestine
Waleed Sweileh
The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of polypharmacy and
frequency of drug dosing on the rate of compliance among hypertensive and diabetic
patients in the Palestinian community. The rate of compliance of 321 hypertensive and
diabetic patients was assessed using graded questionnaire. The overall rate of
compliance for the tested sample was 42.1%. Both, diabetic and hypertensive patients
tend to have better compliance and less noncompliance when the number of
medications is decreased. The best rate of compliance in both cases was obtained when
patients have simple one drug regimen. Both, diabetic and hypertensive patients tend to
have better compliance on once daily dosing (ODD) versus multiple daily dosing
(MDD). However, diabetic but not hypertensive patients tend to have better compliance
on once daily dosing versus twice daily dosing. These results indicate that although
once daily dosing is associated with higher compliance but it is not always the best
especially in treatment of hypertension as the treatment of some type of hypertension
requirs more than one drug more daily doses, depends on the type of hypertension, as
well as dirbetic melitiies. These results should encourage physicians in the hypertension
and diabetes mellitus clinics of the Palestinian Ministry of Health (MOH) to minimize
the number of prescribed medications to improve compliance, therapeutic outcome and
to minimize cost.
Abstract
*, Ola Aker**, Saeed Hamooz**-