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Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of polypharmacy and frequency of drug dosing on the rate of compliance among hypertensive and diabetic patients in the Palestinian community. The rate of compliance of 321 hypertensive and diabetic patients was assessed using graded questionnaire. The overall rate of compliance for the tested sample was 42.1%. Both, diabetic and hypertensive patients tend to have better compliance and less noncompliance when the number of medications is decreased. The best rate of compliance in both cases was obtained when patients have simple one drug regimen. Both, diabetic and hypertensive patients tend to have better compliance on once daily dosing (ODD) versus multiple daily dosing (MDD). However, diabetic but not hypertensive patients tend to have better compliance on once daily dosing versus twice daily dosing. These results indicate that although once daily dosing is associated with higher compliance but it is not always the best especially in treatment of hypertension as the treatment of some type of hypertension requirs more than one drug more daily doses, depends on the type of hypertension, as well as dirbetic melitiies. These results should encourage physicians in the hypertension and diabetes mellitus clinics of the Palestinian Ministry of Health (MOH) to minimize the number of prescribed medications to improve compliance, therapeutic outcome and to minimize cost.