This study was conducted to assess the effects of telephone reminder on antihypertensive medication taking adherence. The study was an experimental design comparing adherence in the use of antihypertensive drugs, systolic and diastolic blood pressure between two groups: receiving telephone reminder (study group) and not receiving telephone reminder (control group). Each group was composed of 31 patients. The study group received telephone calls four times within two months period. The data were collected each month consecutively for 3 months during December 2005 to March 2006. Medication adherence was assessed from pill count technique and interview. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics, namely chi-square, independent t-test, paired t-test, repeated measured ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U test and Friedman test
It was found that antihypertensive medication taking adherence between study group and control group was statistically significantly different (p = 0.024) at the 3rd month. Systolic blood pressure average of the study group showed a more statistically significant decline than that of control group (p < 0.001 and p = 0.010 respectively). However, diastolic blood pressure average significantly decreased in only the study group (p = 0.039).
The findings of this study suggest that the use of telephone reminder four times within two months does not improve medication adherence. A study over a longer period needs to be implemented