PATIENT COMPLIANCE WITH SHORT-TERM TOPICAL AURAL ANTIBIOTIC-THERAPY

Little is known about patient compliance with topical aural antibiotic regimens. The compliance of 50 patients with unilateral otitis extern a attending an otolaryngology clinic was studied by comparing the weig ht of dispensed topical ear preparations before and after completion o f a 7-day-course of treatment. A standard was obtained from controlled administration of the preparation under laboratory conditions and the performance of different delivery systems evaluated. Thirty-seven pat ients re-attended for review with their medication. A total of 34 of 5 0 patients entering the study (70%) satisfied conventional criteria fo r compliance. However, over-use of preparations was common and stricte r criteria are proposed and applied. Compliance was significantly incr eased when someone other than the patient administered the preparation .