The effect of an educational intervention to improve patient antibiotic adherence during dispensing in a community pharmacy

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of an educational intervention on antibiotic adherence and patient-reported resolution of symptoms. DESIGN: A controlled experimental study with systematic assignment to groups. SETTING: A pharmacy in Murcia. Participants were patients who came to the pharmacy with a prescription for antibiotics. Intervention provided information on treatment characteristics (duration, dose and method of use) and correct compliance. A control group received routine care. Main variables “treatment adherence” and “perceived health” were evaluated one week after dispensation by telephone interview. RESULTS: A total of 126 patients completed the study, 62 in the Control Group (CG) and 64 in the Intervention Group (IG). There were no differences between the groups in baseline characteristics, including the level of knowledge before the intervention. At the end of the study, treatment adherence in the CG was 48.4% (CI: 36.4–60.6), compared with 67.2% (CI: 55.0–77.4) in the IG. The difference of 18.8% was statistically significant (p = 0.033; 95% CI = 15.8–34.6). Non-compliance through missing more than one dose was 81.2% in the CG versus 38.1% in the IG, which is a statistically significant difference of 43.1% (p = 0.001; 95% CI = 16.4–63.1%). No significant differences were found in patient-perceived health. Logistic regression showed as predictor of adherence, the medication knowledge and the coincidence between duration of treatment indicated by physician and duration of treatment written in the prescription. CONCLUSIONS: An educational intervention during antibiotic dispensation improves treatment adherence versus routine care.