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The increase in medical expenditure has been worsening and poses a serious social problem. Commonly, leftover drugs are retained by patients. We estimated the possible reduction in prescription rates by appropriately reusing leftover drugs, and investigated the medication efficacy classifications that render leftover drugs due to the medication non-adherence. A retrospective cross-sectional survey of prescription data was performed at community pharmacies engaged in the appropriate reuse of leftover drugs through the SETSUYAKU-BAG campaign. We evaluated the drug costs and number of drugs originally prescribed, the reduction in expenditure and numbers after the use of leftover drugs, and then calculated the prescription reduction ratio (PRR) based on the number of drugs. Factors contributing to non-adherence were analyzed by the PRR. After reviewing the prescription information of 1792 patients, the reduction rate in drug expenditure was found to be 20.1%. Purgatives, Chinese medicines, and agents for peptic ulcer had higher PRRs and belonged to the top ten medications according to the prescription efficacy classifications. Non-adherence associated with the medication efficacy classifications was assessed by analyzing 5466 formulations. Thirty percent of formulations were found to be non-adherent. According to the medication efficacy classifications, six medications including agents for hyperlipidemias, peptic ulcer, psychotropics agents, and others, were less adherent than antihypertensives. These results suggest that adjusting prescriptions by appropriately reusing leftover drugs in community pharmacies could reduce medical costs. Further considerations are necessary for improving medication adherence in Japan. Healthcare providers should monitor medication adherence more carefully, with the results identified in this study.

Maintaining medication adherence is a critical issue in determining health outcomes in patients with chronic diseases. However, many patients do not adhere to their prescribed regimens. This study aimed to determine the effects of using adherence score sheets according to application timing in improving medication adherence among non-adherent outpatients. In community pharmacies, both patients and pharmacists evaluated medication adherence based on application timing (morning, noon, evening, and before going to bed) in 11 levels (0-10) for >4 months. A total of 58 outpatients were included in the study. The median scores among application timing at intermediate (patient 9.3, pharmacist 9.0) and final (patient 9.5, pharmacist 9.5) analyses were significantly higher than that at baseline (patient 7.6, pharmacist 7.0). At the end of the investigation, the ratio of non-adherent patients prescribed with hyperlipidemic medications was higher than those prescribed with medications for other lifestyle diseases. Approximately 80% of the patients reported improved medication adherence based on the questionnaires regarding their understanding on diseases and medications, medication awareness, and communication with pharmacists. Therefore, the utilization of an adherence score sheet according to application timing improved medication adherence of patients with chronic diseases.

Background: Medication adherence has an important influence on health outcomes in patients with chronic diseases. However, few studies have been performed in Japan to determine factors related to medication non-adherence., Objective: The aim of this study was to identify prescription factors related to medication non-adherence by investigating patient characteristics, all prescriptions, and prescriptions for oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs)., Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional survey of prescription data about implementation of dosing regimen was performed at community pharmacies engaged in appropriate use of leftover drugs. We evaluated the amount of drugs originally prescribed and the reduced amount after use of leftover drugs, and then calculated prescription reduction ratio (PRR). We analyzed prescription factors contributing to non-adherence based on the PRR., Results: Prescription information for 1207 patients was reviewed, revealing that patients were non-adherent to 58% of prescriptions. Lack of a drug copayment, fewer concurrent drugs, and drugs not in single-dose packaging were associated with non-adherence. Among the 1207 patients, 234 prescriptions for diabetes and 452 OAD formulations were included. Forty-seven percent of prescriptions and 29% of the formulations were non-adherent. A higher dosing frequency and preprandial administration were associated with non-adherence. Among the OADs, adherence was lower for α-glucosidase inhibitors and biguanides than for sulfonylureas., Conclusions: Several factors related to patient characteristics, general drug prescriptions, and OAD prescriptions were associated with non-adherence. Further consideration will be needed to improve adherence to medication in Japan. Health care providers should perform more careful monitoring of adherence in patients with the factors identified by this study.

Pharmacists, being compensated through the new dispensing fee, are required to educate patients on their adhesion to the use of prescribed drugs, and to inventory the levels of leftover drugs in outpatients. Recently, Fukuoka City Pharmaceutical Association started a campaign for regulating leftover drugs (Setsuyaku Bag Campaign). Thirty-one pharmacies joined the campaign. Pharmacists distributed convenience bags, called 'SETSUYAKU-BAG.' The patients put their leftover drugs in the bags and brought them to community pharmacies. The pharmacists inventoried the returned drugs and reported their results to the doctors. The doctors adjusted the prescriptions accordingly. We counted and analyzed old and new inventories. The number of leftover drugs was 252, for a total value was ¥839655. Cost of leftover drug prescriptions could be reduced by ¥702695, and the value of drugs thrown away was ¥94801. In total, we could reduce the amount of leftover drugs by 83.7%. The cost of leftover drug for one dose package (ODP) is higher than that for non-ODP. However, there were no significant differences in results per age, sex, number and kinds of drugs, prescription days and premium contribution rate. These results suggest that prescription regulation by inventory of leftover drugs in community pharmacies could significantly reduce overall medical expenses. Further studies are necessary in order to account for patients' health, and to establish more efficient patient education to raise outpatients' adherence to the new programs.