Research

 

Why AccuPax?

Is AccuPax right for you? How critical is it to follow your doctors exact instructions? Could you or a loved one be affected by a medication error? A look at the research provides interesting answers. It helps to know the terms used by the scientific and medical community when discussing this topic.  Medication Noncompliance (or Nonadherence) is any deviation from your Doctors’ instructions; not taking medication at all, taking too little or too much, at the wrong time, or with another medication or supplement that could interact with it. In contrast, Medication Compliance (or Adherence) means taking your medications exactly as your doctor prescribed, including the variables described above.

HOW COMMON IS MEDICATION USE? WHAT ABOUT MULTIPLE MEDICATIONS (ALSO CALLED “POLYPHARMACY”)?

  • Two-thirds of trips to a doctor result in prescriptions, totaling over 2.8 BILLION prescriptions a year in the U.S.
  • Each week 80% of U.S. adults use prescription or over-the-counter drugs, or dietary supplements.
  • Five out of six people 65+ take at least one prescription and almost half of older adults take three or more.
  • Over 30% of adults take five or more different medications.
  • 92% of multiple medication users are 50+.

HOW OFTEN DO PEOPLE TAKE THEIR MEDICATIONS INCORRECTLY?

  • One study found non-compliance in 86% of those on 3+ medications.
  • Adverse Drug Reactions increase exponentially with 4 or more medications.
  • The risk for drug errors in seniors is seven times that of people 65 and younger, and 55% of older patients don’t take their medicine correctly.
  • One study of seniors found a nearly 22% error rate for making a medication schedule and sorting medication into a pill sorter.

HOW DOES NONCOMPLIANCE IMPACT YOUR HEALTH, AND EVEN YOUR BUDGET?

  • Noncompliance causes over 125,000 deaths a year in the U.S. One study found the number to be much higher; 300,000 deaths.
  • It’s responsible for 23 – 40% of nursing home admissions & up to 28% of hospital admissions.
  • 38 million older Americans suffer drug complications each year, 180,000 of them life-threatening.
  • A study of diabetics & heart disease patients found death rates among those who were least compliant were nearly double those with the best compliance.
  • Diabetics who fail to take medications as directed have twice the total annual health care costs of those who take them correctly, at $16,498 compared to $8,886.

The use of multiple medications is increasingly common, and the chance for errors is high. To learn more about how AccuPax helps you reduce the chance of error, please take a look at our Learn More page, or browse the rest of our website. For even better safety and medication compliance, check out our recent blog post about various options for timers and services to remind you exactly when to take your medications. Just click on the “Blog” link at the top of the page.

Sources: Report Brief, July 06 PREVENTING MEDICATION ERRORS -Institute of Medicine, 6/18/2009 US Pharm. 2009;34(6):Epub, ISMP (Institute for Safe Medication Practices,) Dr. Jerry Gurwitz, Chief of Geriatric Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Center on Aging and Health, The Johns Hopkins University, Women’s Health and Aging Study II, The World Health Organization (WHO,) U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services, “Medication Regimens: Causes of Noncompliance” report to Special Committee on Aging, U.S. Senate, Medco Health Solutions, Pharmacy Benefits Manager, NYTimes, 9-18-07, Vermeire E, Hearnshaw H, Van Royen P, Denekens J. “Patient Adherence to Treatment: Three Decades of Research. A Comprehensive Review.” J Clin Pharm Ther. 2001; 26:331-342.