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Quantifying the impact of non-adherence to drug therapy: a technical note concerning an application of a branch and bound algorithm.

Authors :
Smith D
Pagel C
Utley M
Gallivan S
Source :
Health care management science [Health Care Manag Sci] 2008 Sep; Vol. 11 (3), pp. 302-5.
Publication Year :
2008

Abstract

Pharmacokinetic models typically rely on a key assumption that patients take their medication as prescribed, whereas this is often not the case. We present a branch and bound algorithm that can be used to estimate the time-varying probability that, given a specified pattern of nonadherence to a prescribed regimen, a patient receives no therapeutic benefit from treatment. Use of this algorithm is a much faster method for obtaining this probability than exhaustive computation of the relevant probability distribution. The use of this algorithm to assess, in quantitative terms, the impact of non-adherence on the effectiveness of treatment provides a rational basis for evaluating the potential harm to patients.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1386-9620
Volume :
11
Issue :
3
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Health care management science
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
18826008
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10729-007-9047-2