Esposito L
New Jersey Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Resource Center, St Peter's Medical Centre, New Brunswick, USA.
J Adv Nurs. 1995 May;21(5):935-43. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2648.1995.21050935.x.
The purpose of this intervention study was to evaluate educational protocols to see which would be more effective in increasing medication compliance rates within an elderly population. Forty-two patients were randomized into four groups. Group 1 received a standard education protocol; group 2 received the standard education and 30 minutes of verbal instruction; group 3 received the standard education and a medication schedule; and group 4 received the standard education, a medication schedule, and 30 minutes of verbal instruction. The intervention was given on the day of hospital discharge. Home visits were made 2 weeks, 1 and 2 months post-hospital discharge. Results of the visits revealed that groups 1 and 2 had higher rates of errors with medications than groups 3 and 4. In conclusion, the groups with a medication schedule had higher compliance rates. Considering the sample size of 42, this study can act as a pilot study to justify further research in the effects of a medication schedule on compliance.
