Impact of Compliance and Side Effects on the Clinical Outcome of Patients Treated With Oral Erythromycin

Abstract

Study Objective. To determine the relationship among compliance, side effects, and self‐reported outcome for patients in an erythromycin trial.Design. A retrospective analysis of data from a multicenter, prospective, single‐blind, randomized trial.Setting. Five metropolitan ambulatory care offices.Patients. The 252 adults (> 18 yrs) were prescribed oral erythromycin 1.0 g/day (base equivalent) for infectious disorders.Intervention. Subjects received erythromycin for 10 days and reported compliance, drug efficacy, and side effects in a daily diary Compliance was measured by tablet count.Results. A negative correlation was found between gastrointestinal symptom severity score and percentage of tablets taken (p<0.001). A significant positive correlation was seen between compliance and outcome (p<0.001). Subjects who took greater than 80% of the drug achieved the treatment goal more frequently than those taking 80% or less (94% vs 59%, p<0.001).Conclusions. Side effects of erythromycin adversely affected compliance. Compliance had a positive effect on self‐reported outcome.