Non-compliance as a burning issue for society:
64% of Americans surveyed* in a Harris Interactive poll, March 2005 said they simply "forgot" to take their medication.
- 11% of this group admitted they forgot their medication "very often".
- 33% of those on prescribed drugs said they do not take their medication on a "regular" basis.
- 45% said that they failed to take their prescription because they had concerns about the drugs
- 43% said they discontinued their treatment as they felt the drug was unnecessary.
Reasons for non-compliance:
Of course there are many reasons for non compliance including, lack of symptoms, saving money, doubts about drug effectiveness, denial of the need for a drug, painful side effects and interference with other activities.
Associated costs:
A Datamonitor survey** also calculated that the costs of patient non-compliance to the pharmaceutical industry is in the region of $30 billion a year. Follow this link for more on associated costs.
Non-compliance in clinical trials:
The harmful effects of non-compliance begins during clinical trials, where it impinges on the accuracy of conclusions reached.
* 64% of Americans who had a prescription in the past year, Harris Interactive Poll on patient non-compliance, March 2005. Harris Interactive/Wall Street Journal online survey, “Prescription Drug Compliance a Significant Challenge for Many Patients, According to New National Survey” conducted in March 2005 for The Wall Street Journal Online’s Health Industry Edition
**Datamonitor report, August 2004: "Addressing Patient Compliance Targeted marketing driving a shift in focus from acquisition". Product code: DAT191