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Physician perception of patient adherence compared to patient adherence of osteoporosis medications from pharmacy claims.
Curr Med Res Opin. 2010 Apr; 26(4):777-85.CM

Abstract

OBJECTIVE

This study explored physicians' perceptions of patient adherence to medications compared with patient adherence derived by administrative data in the treatment of osteoporosis.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A study involving written questionnaires from prescribers treating patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO) compared the questionnaire responses to pharmacy claims of these prescribers' patients' refill patterns. Approximately 2000 physicians from a large US health plan were faxed or mailed a survey. Data from the physician survey were merged with administrative claims data of the participating physicians' patients.

RESULTS

A total of 412 physicians (21.8%) responded. Although a low response rate, there were no significant demographic differences between participating and non-participating physicians. Surveyed physicians reported that 66% of their patients had private/commercial coverage and over 60% reported seeing their PMO patients annually. Overall, physicians estimated that 69.2% of patients were adherent 80% of the time after 12 months of therapy. Yet, pharmacy claims data for those physicians' patients indicated 48.7% of patients were adherent (defined as having an MPR of >or=80%) after 12 months of therapy. Physicians overestimated their patients' adherence regardless of medication class and across physician specialties. Regression modeling revealed that physicians who have been in practice longer estimated fewer patients as adherent, whereas those who prescribe more PMO treatments estimate a greater number of patients as adherent. Providers cited side effects and affordability of medication as the most frequent reasons for non-adherence.

CONCLUSIONS

Physicians overestimate patient adherence to PMO therapies. Improving physician awareness of medication non-adherence to PMO therapies may facilitate physician-patient dialogue, with the aim of identifying patient-centered reasons for non-adherence. These discussions are important because patients with poorer adherence have a higher risk of fracture. Future research should focus on reasons for patient non-adherence to osteoporosis regimens and intervention strategies that improve communication between the provider and patient. Findings must be considered within the limitations of this claims database analysis. Some degree of incomplete or incorrect coding may exist, and the presence of a claim for a filled prescription does not indicate that the medication was consumed or taken as prescribed. Patients included in the study are not necessarily representative of all patients being treated for osteoporosis.

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Publisher Full Text

Authors+Show Affiliations

Copher R
i3 Innovus, Eden Prairie, MN, USA.
Buzinec P
No affiliation info available
Zarotsky V
No affiliation info available
Kazis L
No affiliation info available
Iqbal SU
No affiliation info available
Macarios D
No affiliation info available

MeSH

AgedBone Density Conservation AgentsCross-Sectional StudiesDiphosphonatesFemaleHumansMaleMedication AdherenceMiddle AgedOsteoporosisPhysician-Patient RelationsPrimary Health CareRegression AnalysisUnited States

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Multicenter Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

20095797

Citation

Copher, R, et al. "Physician Perception of Patient Adherence Compared to Patient Adherence of Osteoporosis Medications From Pharmacy Claims." Current Medical Research and Opinion, vol. 26, no. 4, 2010, pp. 777-85.
Copher R, Buzinec P, Zarotsky V, et al. Physician perception of patient adherence compared to patient adherence of osteoporosis medications from pharmacy claims. Curr Med Res Opin. 2010;26(4):777-85.
Copher, R., Buzinec, P., Zarotsky, V., Kazis, L., Iqbal, S. U., & Macarios, D. (2010). Physician perception of patient adherence compared to patient adherence of osteoporosis medications from pharmacy claims. Current Medical Research and Opinion, 26(4), 777-85. https://doi.org/10.1185/03007990903579171
Copher R, et al. Physician Perception of Patient Adherence Compared to Patient Adherence of Osteoporosis Medications From Pharmacy Claims. Curr Med Res Opin. 2010;26(4):777-85. PubMed PMID: 20095797.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Physician perception of patient adherence compared to patient adherence of osteoporosis medications from pharmacy claims. AU - Copher,R, AU - Buzinec,P, AU - Zarotsky,V, AU - Kazis,L, AU - Iqbal,S U, AU - Macarios,D, PY - 2010/1/26/entrez PY - 2010/1/26/pubmed PY - 2010/6/17/medline SP - 777 EP - 85 JF - Current medical research and opinion JO - Curr Med Res Opin VL - 26 IS - 4 N2 - OBJECTIVE: This study explored physicians' perceptions of patient adherence to medications compared with patient adherence derived by administrative data in the treatment of osteoporosis. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A study involving written questionnaires from prescribers treating patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO) compared the questionnaire responses to pharmacy claims of these prescribers' patients' refill patterns. Approximately 2000 physicians from a large US health plan were faxed or mailed a survey. Data from the physician survey were merged with administrative claims data of the participating physicians' patients. RESULTS: A total of 412 physicians (21.8%) responded. Although a low response rate, there were no significant demographic differences between participating and non-participating physicians. Surveyed physicians reported that 66% of their patients had private/commercial coverage and over 60% reported seeing their PMO patients annually. Overall, physicians estimated that 69.2% of patients were adherent 80% of the time after 12 months of therapy. Yet, pharmacy claims data for those physicians' patients indicated 48.7% of patients were adherent (defined as having an MPR of >or=80%) after 12 months of therapy. Physicians overestimated their patients' adherence regardless of medication class and across physician specialties. Regression modeling revealed that physicians who have been in practice longer estimated fewer patients as adherent, whereas those who prescribe more PMO treatments estimate a greater number of patients as adherent. Providers cited side effects and affordability of medication as the most frequent reasons for non-adherence. CONCLUSIONS: Physicians overestimate patient adherence to PMO therapies. Improving physician awareness of medication non-adherence to PMO therapies may facilitate physician-patient dialogue, with the aim of identifying patient-centered reasons for non-adherence. These discussions are important because patients with poorer adherence have a higher risk of fracture. Future research should focus on reasons for patient non-adherence to osteoporosis regimens and intervention strategies that improve communication between the provider and patient. Findings must be considered within the limitations of this claims database analysis. Some degree of incomplete or incorrect coding may exist, and the presence of a claim for a filled prescription does not indicate that the medication was consumed or taken as prescribed. Patients included in the study are not necessarily representative of all patients being treated for osteoporosis. SN - 1473-4877 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/20095797/Physician_perception_of_patient_adherence_compared_to_patient_adherence_of_osteoporosis_medications_from_pharmacy_claims_ L2 - https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1185/03007990903579171 DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -