MEDICATION COMPLIANCE AMONG TANZANIAN HYPERTENSIVES

The clinical records of 702 patients starting antihypertensive treatme nt between 1985 and 1990 were collected and reviewed at the end of 199 2, At the end of an average observation period of three years, 47% of the patients had dropped out of the cardiac clinic, The medication com pliance of 146 patients was estimated by both interview method as well as by the pip count method in 1991 and 1992, Medication compliance wa s related to the frequency and time of dosing as well as to the number of drugs. Once daily regimens had better compliance than three times daily ones and medication compliance was greatest for morning dosing, second greatest for evening dosing and least for dosing at noon, A nee d for improvement of patient doctor communication was emphasised.