For Immediate Release – Tuesday, July 10, 2006
Prescription Compliance Continues As Significant Issue – No Improvement Seen More Than One Third of Patients Report Not Filling All Rxs – 65% of All Rxs Show Non-Compliance with Directions
NEW HOPE, PA and NEWTOWN, PA – (BUSINESS WIRE) – July 10, 2006 – The J. Scott Group
According to Wilson Health Information and The J. Scott Group an even higher 50% of patients report not filling Rxs for certain conditions - major reasons for not filling include too costly, lack of insurance coverage, and patient perception of lack of need. Forgetfulness a major issue in non-compliance with filled Rx directions. Wilson Health Information and J. Scott Group to conduct replica study at product level.
A 2006 study of some 32,000 patients conducted by Wilson Health Information indicates that some 35% of patients did not fill all the prescriptions they received, a percentage virtually unchanged over the past three years, this in spite of efforts by health care providers and pharmaceutical companies to convey the benefits of compliance.
The study identified the level of patients not filling all Rxs in some 55 diseases/conditions; 25% of these conditions showed a non-filled level of roughly 50%. Included in the latter are depression, anxiety disorder, migraine, and ulcer. Shown in the following are reasons cited by patients in the aggregate for not filling prescriptions (comparable data are available by condition):
Reasons for Not Filling Rx
• Patient-perceived lack of need 42%*
• Too costly 27
• Changed by physician 20
• Concern with side effects 17
• Insurance did not cover 16
• Used O-T-C instead 8
• Forgot to fill 4
• Other 13* Totals more than 100% due to multiple mentions
While 65% of study respondents reported that they did fill all prescriptions received, the percentage is misleading as an indicator of compliance in that 65% of all patients did not comply with prescriber directions, either not taking all of the medication, or not taking as directed. The following are reasons reported overall for non-compliance (comparable data are available by condition):
Rx Filled - Directions Not Followed
• Forgot to take 79%*
• Ran out of medication 19
• Too costly 9
• Patient-perceived lack of need 9
• Side effects 7
• No improvement seen 3* Totals more than 100% due to multiple mentions
The study noted significant differences by condition and by patient age - the older the patient, the more likely she/he is to fill a prescription. Only 29% of patients 65 and over reported not filling all the Rxs they receive compared to 41% in the under 50 age segment.
The 2006 study by disease/condition is available now. The replica study, which will show comparable information, but at the category/product level, to be conducted jointly by Wilson Health Information and The J. Scott Group, will be available for purchase in September, 2006.
For further information, or to purchase
Contact
The J. Scott Group
Steve Chappell, 267-352-0022
schappell@jscott-intl.com
or
Wilson Health Information, LLC
Jim Wilson, 215-862-4581
jim@wilsonrx.com
Wilson Health Information, LLC, an independent, privately owned healthcare consumer Research Company providing unique insight into healthcare satisfaction issues. For information, contact Jim Wilson at (215) 862- 4581 or contact us.
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