TY - JOUR T1 - Predicting compliance with a regimen of digoxin therapy in family practice JF - Canadian Medical Association Journal JO - CMAJ SP - 119 LP - 122 VL - 123 IS - 2 AU - J. R. Gilbert AU - C. E. Evans AU - R. B. Haynes AU - P. Tugwell Y1 - 1980/07/19 UR - http://www.cmaj.ca/content/123/2/119.abstract N2 - 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. ER -