Online patient survey highlights problem of patient compliance

30 June 2008

An online poll has revealed that 20% of people, when asked about their last visit to the doctor, stopped taking their prescribed medication when they started to feel better, with 5% of people deciding not to take it at all. The survey, which was designed by The Research Partnership and carried out by online pollsters Toluna, was undertaken by over 2,000 respondents.

Low patient recall

The survey also revealed that many people find it difficult to remember what they have been told by their doctor. Over half the respondents said that either they couldn't remember some things the GP told them and had to look at the medicine to recall the exact prescription, or they didn't remember anything at all. Six percent didn't even understand the instructions on the medicine box.

The survey highlights the problem of patient compliance and the huge numbers of prescription medicines which are not used correctly, if at all. Patient non-compliance costs the NHS and other countries' payors billions every year and can result in healthcare complications or even death.

Position paper now available

The Research Partnership has published a position paper entitled "freethinking - Maximising Patient Adherence by leveraging the patient/physician/pharma relationship". The paper looks at the problem of patient compliance and discusses how market research can be used to develop a better understanding of the complex relationship between patient and doctor and the pharmaceutical industry. Improved understanding, it is believed, is likely to result in more effective marketing strategies for improving patient compliance. The paper is free of charge and can be viewed online here.