Patient compliance with hypertensive medications at an Indian Health Service/managed care clinic.

This report provides information of patient compliance rates for prescribed medications. The author conducted a case study at an Indian Health Service (IHS) health clinic to measure patient compliance to hypertensive therapy in a managed care clinic setting. Patient profiles and medical records were monitored and the date of refill, quantity dispensed, and dosage regimen (number of doses per day) were recorded on a compliance sheet. The results showed a mean compliance value of 91.3%. The mean compliance value for each of the 11 drugs monitored ranged from 88.3% to 93.8% with no significant difference found between the means of the 11 drugs. No difference was shown for those patients on different daily dosage regimens. Compliance values in this study are related to clinical practices unique to the IHS. Patient education occurs as a standard of practice at IHS clinics. The managed care concept of health care delivery used in the IHS has a positive effect on patient compliance.