Key result
Live calls from pharmacists significantly decreased primary medication nonadherence compared to control (36.9% vs 41.7%, P<0.0001), whereas automated reminder calls had no effect.
Why the study?
Do automated or live pharmacy-based reminder calls reduce primary medication nonadherence in patients with newly prescribed cardiovascular medications?
Cohort (n=986,025)
Randomly selected birthdays for control group
Yes
Do automated or live pharmacy-based reminder calls reduce primary medication nonadherence in patients with newly prescribed cardiovascular medications?
Absolute Risk Reduction: 4.8
Absolute Event Rate: 36.9% vs 41.7%
Absolute Risk Reduction: 4.8%
p-value: p=<0.0001
Live pharmacist calls, but not automated reminders, modestly reduce primary nonadherence to newly prescribed cardiovascular medications.
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Live pharmacist calls were associated with lower primary nonadherence; leaves open whether RCTs will confirm benefit or support implementation.
Fischer et al. (2014) conducted a cohort in Primary medication nonadherence (n=986,025). Live pharmacist calls and automated reminder calls vs. Control group (randomly selected birthdays) was evaluated on Patient abandonment of new prescription (not picking up medications within 30 days of initial processing) (difference of 4.8%, p=<0.0001). Live calls from pharmacists significantly decreased primary medication nonadherence compared to control (36.9% vs 41.7%, P<0.0001), whereas automated reminder calls had no effect.
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