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Medication Compliance Among Headache Patients
Author(s) -
Packard Russell C.,
O'Connell Pat
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
headache: the journal of head and face pain
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.14
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1526-4610
pISSN - 0017-8748
DOI - 10.1111/j.1526-4610.1986.hed2608416.x
Subject(s) - medicine , compliance (psychology) , regimen , patient compliance , physical therapy , pediatrics , family medicine , surgery , psychology , social psychology
SYNOPSIS Medication is a major, often primary treatment modality used in the management of headache. However,even the most thorough and well designed therapeutic regimen with appropriate medication will failwithout patient compliance. This study was designed to evaluate compliance among headache patientsbeing treated with prescribed medication. One hundred consecutive new outpatients presenting to aheadache clinic were interviewed extensively in regard to their use of prescribed medication.Fifty‐two patients (52%) were initially determined to be non‐compliant with their medication. Ten patientswho were initially considered compliant were noted to be non‐compliant during a three month follow‐upperiod. Significant in this number were three medication abusers and two alcoholics. Reasons fornon‐compliance varied widely. Age, sex, educational level and headache diagnosis were not predictive foreither compliance or non‐compliance.Discussion centers on the importance of a detailed history of medication use in headache patients,reasons for non‐compliance, and recommendations to assist compliance among headache patients.