Drug sample provision and its effect on continuous drug therapy in an indigent care setting.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To assess the continuity and consistency of drug therapy among indigent patients following drug sample provision. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Indigent ambulatory care. PATIENTS 129 adult patients, identified as having been given a drug sample between January 1, 2004, and February 27, 2004. INTERVENTIONS: Analysis of data regarding the sample regimen, duration, rationale for sample provision, therapeutic indication, and subsequent therapy prescribed in the 6 months following sample provision. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Lengths of gaps between sample provision and subsequent prescribed therapy were analyzed to evaluate the effect of sample provision on the continuity and consistency of drug therapy. RESULTS: Of the 52 patients for whom continuous therapy was indicated, interruptions in therapy occurred in 50% (mean duration, 51.1 +/- 37.8 days; range, 2-123). Of the 65 patients who were prescribed subsequent therapy, 89.2% were prescribed the exact same drug, 9.2% a different drug in the same class, and 1.5% a different drug in a different class. Following sample provision, only 2 (3.1%) patients were prescribed generic medications. CONCLUSION: Significant interruptions in drug therapy frequently followed sample provision in those requiring continuous treatment. On average, patients experienced interruptions in therapy for nearly 2 months. The majority of patients who were prescribed subsequent therapy were prescribed the same drug as the drug sample initially provided.