Blister Packaging Medication to Increase Treatment Adherence and Clinical Response: Impact on Suicide-related Morbidity and Mortality.

摘要

Purpose and Scope: Medication overdoses account for substantial numbers of suicide-related behaviors in several segments of the US population, including active duty military. The purpose of this study was to determine if medication administration via blister packaging was associated with an increase in treatment adherence and a decrease in suicide-related overdoses among high risk patient populations. Facilitating individuals taking their medication as prescribed was expected to be associated with symptom improvement and a decrease in associated distress. In turn this improvement was expected to decrease overall suicide risk. Also, creating appropriate means restriction was expected to result in reduced morbidity and mortality resulting from intentional and accidential overdoses. The primary study hypothesis was that patients in the Blister Pack (BP) condition would have better treatment adherence with their regular prescription medications than patients in the Dispense as Usual (DAU) condition. A secondary hypothesis was that patients in the BP condition would have significantly better treatment adherence with their PRN (ie., as needed) medications than patients in the DAU condition. The secondary primary hypothesis was that patients in the BP condition would have fewer overdoses than patients in the DAU condition.