PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - J. R. Gilbert
AU  - C. E. Evans
AU  - R. B. Haynes
AU  - P. Tugwell
TI  - Predicting compliance with a regimen of digoxin therapy in family practice
DP  - 1980 Jul 19
TA  - Canadian Medical Association Journal
PG  - 119--122
VI  - 123
IP  - 2
4099  - http://www.cmaj.ca/content/123/2/119.short
4100  - http://www.cmaj.ca/content/123/2/119.full
SO  - CMAJ1980 Jul 19; 123
AB  - The ability of family physicians to predict patients' compliance with a regimen of digoxin therapy was studied by an analytic survey. Compliance was assessed by a pill count at a home visit and measurement of the serum digoxin level in a blood sample obtained at that visit. Of 74 patients 70% were found to be taking more than 80% of their pills and 86% had a therapeutic serum digoxin level. The 10 physicians were unable to predict compliance better than chance, even for the 58 patients they had known for 5 or more years. Physicians should be cautious in predicting compliance, and when they prescribe oral digoxin therapy they should monitor the patient's compliance by means of the serum digoxin levels.