Objective assessment of compliance with treatments in acne

Summary Background Acne occurs in prepubertal individuals, teenagers and adults, and can have a devastating effect on self‐esteem and social relationships. Whether an acne sufferer will seek treatment often depends, apart from the severity, on cultural and social aspects, which play a significant role in the attitude of the individuals and how they cope with the condition. Compliance with treatment regimen is an essential element in overall effectiveness of therapy. Objectives To assess patient compliance in acne vulgaris. Methods In an open prospective study at a dermatology outpatient clinic, patients with acne, and on isotretinoin or conventional therapies, were examined and completed a questionnaire consisting of: (i) a brief medical and social history, (ii) a compliance assessment sheet, and (iii) the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Patients were re‐examined after 3 months and their actual treatment usage was directly assessed and compared with expected use. The objective medication adherence (Med Ad) was calculated as (actual treatment use/expected treatment use) × 100. The interview (self‐report) Med Ad was obtained by direct questioning. To avoid influencing the behaviour of the subjects, they were not informed of the specific aim of the study: the Local Research Ethics Committee gave approval for this approach. Patient attendance was recorded by referring to the outpatient clinic appointment charts. Results Of 687 patients seen who fulfilled the inclusion criteria, 403 completed the study. The mean ± SD overall objective Med Ad was 64·7 ± 24% (range 0–111%). The mean ± SD DLQI was 17·7 ± 8·1 (range 2–30). There was a highly significant negative correlation (r = −0·87) between DLQI scores and Med Ad. The correlation between age and Med Ad was significantly negative (P