Non–Face-to-Face Intervention Improves Medication Adherence — Slightly

Interventions to improve medication adherence often are labor-intensive and expensive. In this study, researchers recruited 2038 adults with poorly controlled hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or diabetes to assess a multicomponent, non–face-to-face intervention. Fourteen Massachusetts primary care practices were randomized to usual care or to an intervention based on telephone interviewing by a clinical pharmacist to identify individual behavioral barriers to adherence. Intervention patients received tailored, mailed consultation reports (as did their primary care physicians), text message reminders, and medication-reminder electronic pillboxes. Adherence was assessed with pharmacy claims data during 12 months of follow-up.

The two most common …