Randomized trial of telephone outreach to improve medication adherence and metabolic control in adults with diabetes

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Medication nonadherence is a major obstacle to better control of glucose, blood pressure (BP), and LDL cholesterol in adults with diabetes. Inexpensive effective strategies to increase medication adherence are needed. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: In a pragmatic randomized trial, we randomly assigned 2,378 adults with diabetes mellitus who had recently been prescribed a new class of medication for treating elevated levels of glycated hemoglobin (A1C) ≥8% (64 mmol/mol), BP ≥140/90 mmHg, or LDL cholesterol ≥100 mg/dL, to receive 1) one scripted telephone call from a diabetes educator or clinical pharmacist to identify and address nonadherence to the new medication or 2) usual care. Hierarchical linear and logistic regression models were used to assess the impact on 1) the fi rst medication fill within 60 days of the prescription; 2) two or more medication fills within 180 days of the prescription; and 3) clinically signi ficant improvement in levels of A1C, BP, or LDL cholesterol. RESULTS: Of the 2,378 subjects, 89.3% in the intervention group and 87.4%in the usual-care group had suffi cient data to analyze study outcomes. In intent-to-treat analyses, intervention was not associated with signi fi cant improvement in primary adherence, medication persistence, or intermediate outcomes of care. Results were similar across subgroups of patients de fi ned by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and study site, and when limiting the analysis to those who completed the intended intervention. CONCLUSIONS: This low-intensity intervention did not significantly improve medication adherence or control of glucose, BP, or LDL cholesterol. Wide use of this strategy does not appear to be warranted; alternative approaches to identify and improve medication adherence and persistence are needed.