Evaluation of a refill synchronization program in two community pharmacies.

OBJECTIVES

To describe medication adherence by the proportion of days covered before and after enrollment in a refill synchronization program.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of medication adherence in 2 pharmacies offering a refill synchronization program. The study population consisted of individuals who received 2 or more medications from any of 15 predefined medication classes within 6 months of enrollment in the synchronization program. Medication adherence and refill consolidation were measured over 6 months before and after enrollment. Optimal adherence was defined as proportion of days covered ≥80%.

RESULTS

Among 109 patients who enrolled in the program between 2009 and 2014, 68 were included in a pre-post analysis of medication adherence. In the preenrollment period, optimal adherence was observed in 85% (217/254) of the medications taken by the 68 patients, increasing to 93% (237/254) in the postenrollment period (P <0.01). In addition, the percentage maintaining optimal adherence to all of their medications increased significantly from 60% (n = 41) to 83% (n = 57; P <0.01).

CONCLUSION

Among a small group of patients who voluntarily participated in refill synchronization programs, high levels of medication adherence were observed in the preenrollment period. These results combined with previous studies suggest that voluntary participants of these programs are at a low risk for nonadherence; therefore, current estimates of benefit from refill synchronization programs may be overestimated.