PREDICTING COMPLIANCE WITH A REGIMEN OF DIGOXIN THERAPY IN FAMILY-PRACTICE

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 123  (2) , 119-122
Abstract
The ability of family physicians to predict patients'' compliance with a regimen of digoxin therapy was studied by an analytic survey. Compliance was assessed by a pill count at a home visit and measurement of the serum digoxin level in a blood sample obtained at that visit. Of 74 patients, 70% were taking > 80% of their pills and 86% had a therapeutic serum digoxin level. The 10 physicians were unable to predict compliance better than chance, even for the 58 patients they had known for > 5 yr. Physicians should be cautious in predicting compliance, and when they prescribe oral digoxin therapy they should monitor the patient''s compliance by serum digoxin levels.