Do you fill your psoriasis med prescriptions?
A European study has confirmed what psoriasis patients whisper about among themselves: a stunning percentage of psoriasis patients do not even fill the prescriptions their doctors prescribe for them. Nearly one-third of dermatology patients do not obtain their prescription medications, found the study from Denmark, and psoriasis patients had the lowest compliance rate--nearly 50% of prescriptions for psoriasis medications went unfilled! The study was published in the July issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
The study's authors followed 322 patients who received a first-time prescription for a skin condition from doctors at a large clinic outside of Copenhagen. Using a nationwide electronic prescription registry, they determined whether patients redeemed their prescription at a pharmacy.
Younger patients and those with chronic conditions were less likely to fill their prescriptions. Prescriptions for topical medications went unfilled more often than those for systemic treatments, such as pills. (Previous studies have shown that even when patients do acquire their medications, they often do not use them correctly; topical medications are particularly likely to be misused.)
Patients' motivation to follow a prescribed treatment is influenced by their confidence in their doctors and by their previous experience with similar therapies, say the authors. Price is unlikely to be a factor in Denmark, where much of the cost of prescription medications is covered by the public health insurance system. (This raises the question whether compliance is even lower in the U.S.A., where cost is a common problem.)
The authors recommend better communication during office visits, so that doctor and patient can agree on a treatment plan. Also, they propose that doctors follow up about a week after an office visit to ensure that patients have filled their prescriptions and are taking their medications as directed.
"Psoriasis patients and their physicians both have to do better," said Michael Paranzino, president of Psoriasis Cure Now. "Patients have to 'come clean' if they don't plan to fill prescriptions, so the doctor can work with the patient on a treatment plan that meets the patient's needs. At the same time, doctors must take this study to heart: there is a serious disconnect between many doctors and their psoriasis patients, which is impacting patient outcomes."
Do you fill your prescriptions? If not, why not? Click on COMMENTS below and let us know what you think.
The study's authors followed 322 patients who received a first-time prescription for a skin condition from doctors at a large clinic outside of Copenhagen. Using a nationwide electronic prescription registry, they determined whether patients redeemed their prescription at a pharmacy.
Younger patients and those with chronic conditions were less likely to fill their prescriptions. Prescriptions for topical medications went unfilled more often than those for systemic treatments, such as pills. (Previous studies have shown that even when patients do acquire their medications, they often do not use them correctly; topical medications are particularly likely to be misused.)
Patients' motivation to follow a prescribed treatment is influenced by their confidence in their doctors and by their previous experience with similar therapies, say the authors. Price is unlikely to be a factor in Denmark, where much of the cost of prescription medications is covered by the public health insurance system. (This raises the question whether compliance is even lower in the U.S.A., where cost is a common problem.)
The authors recommend better communication during office visits, so that doctor and patient can agree on a treatment plan. Also, they propose that doctors follow up about a week after an office visit to ensure that patients have filled their prescriptions and are taking their medications as directed.
"Psoriasis patients and their physicians both have to do better," said Michael Paranzino, president of Psoriasis Cure Now. "Patients have to 'come clean' if they don't plan to fill prescriptions, so the doctor can work with the patient on a treatment plan that meets the patient's needs. At the same time, doctors must take this study to heart: there is a serious disconnect between many doctors and their psoriasis patients, which is impacting patient outcomes."
Do you fill your prescriptions? If not, why not? Click on COMMENTS below and let us know what you think.
posted by Psoriasis Cure Now at 11:23 PM
1 Comments:
they are too expensive,,so i delay alot. Lee ,,,40 years under the curse of psoriasis
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