Patient compliance

patient compliance,
n the degree or extent to which a patient follows or completes a prescribed diagnostic,
treatment, or preventive procedure.
Compliance (or Adherence) is a medical term that is used to indicate a patient's correct
following of medical advice. Most commonly it is a patient taking medication (drug
compliance), but may also apply to use of surgical appliances such as compression stockings,
chronic wound care, self-directed physiotherapy exercises, or attending counseling or other
courses of therapy.

When developing compliance programmes there are three key steps that should be addressed:
1. Quantify your brands adherence profile
2. Look at what is influencing patient behaviours
3. Design appropriate interventions which meet patient needs and have realistic
expectations.
It is also critical to look at the key objectives for each group:

Patient
o

Improve levels of knowledge within the patient group

Support patients with changes to their daily routine

Support patients throughout their treatment journey

Healthcare Providers
o

Improve the communication and support to their patients

Contribute to Good Medicine by improving compliance

Improve relationship with the brand

Brand
o

Improve product performance through improved compliance

Generate enhanced insight into patient behaviour

Build stronger relationships with prescribers through tangible support for the
patient base.

There are a wide variety of tools available for us to use to implement programmes: inbound
medical helplines, outbound call schedules, websites, direct mail, SMS/IVR schedules or onsite nursing support. In addition we need to consider the important role of the pharmacist
who are crucial and will take on more responsibility. Whatever we choose good research will
help us flesh out the key messages and strategy and Good Medicine has to be at its heart.
The critical success factors of a compliance programme are:

Programmes must be genuinely designed to improve healthcare standards for patients

and healthcare

Programmes must ensure patient safety and data security

Programmes must not be designed as product marketing programmes, and must be

designed only for pre-prescribed patients

Registration onto the programme must be optional, simple and compelling

Sales teams must understand the significance of the programme.

Once we have conducted the research, defined out objectives and developed a compliance

programme the final hurdle will be to ensure sufficient training and help is given to the sales
force to enable them to sell the intangible benefits of such a programme.

Allergic Disorders

Allergies

Anaphylaxis

Cardiovascular System

Hypertension

Edema

Angina

CHF and arrhythmias

Electrolyte disturbances

Coagulation disorders

Hyperlipoproteinemias

Hypotension

Pulmonary hypertension

Central Nervous System

Insomnia

Anxiety/OCD

Psychosis

Mood disorders

Seizure disorders

Parkinsonism

Alzheimer's dementia

Multiple sclerosis

ADHD/narcolepsy

Restless legs syndrome

Miscellaneous neurodegenerative disorders

Dental

Prevention of dental caries

Periodontal disease

Teething/toothache

Dry mouth

Oral inflammation/ulcers

Dermatological Disorders

Topical steroids

Acne

Skin infections (topicals)

Psoriasis

Pruritus and dry skin

Warts

Miscellaneous dermatological conditions

Diaper rash

Cleansers

Scabies and lice

Rosacea

Pressure/neuropathic ulcers

Diagnostic Agents

Diagnostic agents

Ear Disorders

Ear disorders

Endocrine System

Diabetes

Corticosteroid-responsive disorders

Thyroid disease

Hypogonadism

Pituitary disorders

Eye Disorders

Ocular infections

Glaucoma

Ocular allergy/inflammation

Dry eye

Miscellaneous ocular agents

Gastrointestinal Tract

Hyperacidity, GERD, and ulcers

Constipation and bowel cleansers

Diarrhea

Colorectal disorders

Nausea

Digestive and biliary disorders

Hepatic encephalopathy

Hematology

Anemias

Bleeding disorders

Intermittent claudication

White blood cell disorders

Thromboembolic disorders

Immune-mediated blood disorders

Hyperuricemia

Miscellaneous hematological agents

Immune System

Immunization

Immunomodulators

Infections & Infestations

Bacterial infections

Fungal infections

Malaria

Helmintic infections

Protozoal infections

Viral infections

Tuberculosis

Metabolic Disorders

Inborn errors of metabolism

Musculoskeletal Disorders

Arthritis/rheumatic disorders

Gout

Muscle spasms

Bone disorders

Anesthesia

Nutrition

Vitamins/minerals/supplements

Anorexia/cachexia

Obesity

Formulas

Dehydration

Ob/Gyn

Contraception

Vaginal infections

Dysmenorrhea

Menorrhagia

Vaginal dryness/irritation

Menopause and HRT

Endometriosis

Infertility

Labor and delivery

Miscellaneous Ob/Gyn conditions

Oncology

Bladder, kidney, and other urologic cancers

Bone and connective tissue cancer

Breast cancer

CNS cancers

Colorectal and other GI cancers

Eye cancer

Gynecologic cancers

Head and neck cancer

Kaposi's sarcoma

Leukemias, lymphomas, and other hematologic cancers

Melanoma and other skin cancers

Pancreatic, thyroid, and other endocrine cancers

Prostate and other male cancers

Respiratory and thoracic cancers

Cytoprotective and supportive care agents

Pain & Pyrexia

Nonnarcotic analgesics

Narcotic analgesics

Fibromyalgia

Migraine and headache

Topical analgesics/anesthetics

Poisoning & Drug Dependence

Poisoning/overdose

Smoking

Addiction/dependence

Respiratory Tract

Asthma/COPD

Cough and cold

Rhinitis/rhinorrhea (intranasal products)

Lung surfactants/mucolytics

Respiratory stimulants

Urogenital System

Urinary tract disorders

Overactive bladder/enuresis

Benign prostatic hyperplasia/urinary retention

Miscellaneous urogenital disorders

Erectile dysfunction

Drug interactions classified by severity (drug-drug, drug-alcohol, drug-food,)

Many diabetic patients need more than one type of diabetes pill to control their blood-glucose
level, thus combination diabetes pills are available for treatment.

Combination Diabetes Pills

Actoplus Met (pioglitazone + metformin): Actoplus Met is a combination of two

types of pills. One pill lowers the amount of glucose made by your liver. Both types
help your insulin work the way it should.

Avandamet (rosiglitazone + metformin): Avandamet is a combination of two types of

pills. One pill lowers the amount of glucose made by your liver. Both types help your
insulin work the way it should.

Avandaryl (rosiglitazone + glimepiride): Avandaryl is a combination of two types of

pills. One pill helps your insulin work the way it should. The other pill helps your
body make more insulin.

Duetact (pioglitazone + glimepiride): Duetact is a combination of two types of pills.

One pill helps your insulin work the way it should. The other pill helps your body
make more insulin.

Glucovance (glyburide + metformin): Glucovance is a combination of two types of

pills. One pill helps your body make more insulin. The other pill lowers the amount of
glucose made by your liver and helps your insulin work the way it should.

Janumet (sitagliptin + metformin): Janumet is a combination of two types of pills.

One pill helps your body make more insulin when you need it, especially right after
meals. It also helps keep your liver from putting stored glucose into your blood. The
other pill lowers the amount of glucose made by your liver and helps your insulin
work the way it should.

Metaglip (glipizide + metformin): Metaglip is a combination of two types of pills.

One pill helps your body make more insulin. The other pill lowers the amount of
glucose made by your liver and helps your insulin work the way it should.