Dose-dispensing service as an intervention to improve adherence to polymedication

Abstract

Given the importance of high adherence to long-term pharmacotherapy and the growing need to improve medication adherence, choosing the best intervention represents a challenge for healthcare providers. A dose-dispensing service is defined as the repackaging of solid oral medication into dose-dispensing aids by a healthcare provider, mostly in a community pharmacy or hospital pharmacy, in order to assist patients in the management of their polymedication. The personalized dose-dispensing aid organizes individual oral doses according to their prescribed intake schedule throughout the day and the week. This review aims to describe the pros and cons of different dose-dispensing services and technologies, summarizes current evidence and addresses research gaps.

Keywords::

• adherence
• adherence aid
• community pharmacy
• medication reminder system
• packaging aid
• personalized medicine
• pharmaceutical care
• pillbox
• polymedication

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Emily Schultz for helpful comments in the preparation of this manuscript.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any, organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with, the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.