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. 1969 Jan 25;1(5638):218–222. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.5638.218

Drug Defaulting in a General Practice*

A M W Porter
PMCID: PMC1982068  PMID: 5762624

Abstract

Different groups of patients in a general practice have been under close observation by defined methods to assess the extent of their adherence to drug schedules. Patients taking antibiotics, admitted to a short drug trial and prescribed long-term treatments, proved in most cases to be compliant. Antenatal patients taking a once-daily dosage of prophylactic iron were more co-operative than those taking divided dosages. Socially isolated patients and those of low social class were particularly likely to neglect their drugs.

It is suggested that the significance and extent of the problem have been largely ignored and that all drug trials undertaken on outpatients should incorporate methods of detecting defaulters.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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