Læknablaðið : fylgirit - 01.03.1983, Qupperneq 107

Discussion
The present study is a preliminary one, primarily intended
to inform the doctors of the experience gained using the
method described. It is obvious that as the nurses have another
purpose in their visit, the response is very positive, and
therefore it would be possible to carry out other studies, which
should give reliable results, among people cared for by the
home nursing service, and among people with newborn babies,
visited by nurses. An attempt was made to carry out a study
on the latter group, but the data collected were insufficient
for publication.
It is very difficult to collect total information on peoples
drug taking, even though the information were to be recorded
regularly on a drugs form (c.f. e.g. the Egilsstaðir project
health journal)2) or by the use of drugs cards, because a
considerable section of patients use drugs prescribed by more
than one doctor. It is clear that systematic studies of this
kind can provide the general practitioner with important
information on patients compliance. Much remains to be done in
this area. It is imperative that doctors show increased caution
in connection with drug prescriptions, and basic knowledge of
peoples drug taking habits should be of help.
Summary
A studio of compliance by pill counting is described. Good
responæwere achieved by depending on home nurses. For all
the drugs studied the consumption proved to be half or less
of the prescribed amount.
References
1. Davíðsson,D., Sigfússon,N., ölafsson,ö., Björnsson,0.J.,
Þorsteinsson,P.
"Health Survey in the Reykjavík Area, 1967-68. The
Medical History of Participants Obtained by Means of a
Standard Questionnaire, Drug Taking, Hospitalizations,
Visits to Doctors etc." (In Icelandic) .
Icelandic Heart Association, 1972. Lágmúli 9, Reykjavík.
2. G.Sigurðsson, G.Magnússon, H. Sigvaldason, H.Tulinius,
I.Einarsson and ö.ölafsson.
Problem orienterad journal och individ baserad informations
system for primarvárd.
NOMESCO. Socialdepartementet S-103 33 Stochholm 1980.
TABLE 1
Drug use compared to prMcríption rules.
Number of drugs Taken as prescribed Proportional Not taken average of extended as prescríbed duration of drug intake
1. Antibiotics and chemotherapeutics 23 6 17 2.1
2. Digitalis glycosides 27 5 22 2.13
3. Centyl, Hygroton, Apresolin, Ismelin, Brinaldix, Lasix 44 14 30 2.28
4. Hypnotics and sedatives 87 24 63 2.48
5. Potassium chloride and other electrolytes 31 13 18 2.08
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