@article {Richards:February 2007:0300-7995:293,
	author = "Richards, J.B.",
	author = "Cherkas, L.F.",
	author = "Spector, T.D.",
	title = "An analysis of which anti-osteoporosis therapeutic regimen would improve compliance in a population of elderly adults",
	journal = "Current Medical Research and Opinion",
	volume = "23",
	year = "February 2007",
	abstract = "<I>Objective:</I> Although medications to prevent osteoporotic fractures have been proven to be effective, compliance to these therapies is generally poor. Therapeutic regimens for different anti-osteoporotic medications differ widely and it is currently unknown which regimen would be most preferred by patients.<P></P><I>Research design and methods:</I> We conducted a large, population-based study to discern which therapeutic attributes would be most preferable to a population representative of the age and sex distribution of patients with osteoporosis.<P></P><I>Results:</I> Our study sample was restricted to persons aged 55 years and over and comprised 2485 individuals (mean age of 64.5 years). The study population was predominantly female (90.3%) and two-thirds of the respondents reported current daily medication use. Nearly half (45%) of the study population preferred to take medications daily, while one in five preferred weekly therapy and 30% preferred monthly therapy (<I>p</I> &#60; 0.0001 for between proportion comparisons). When given the option of choosing between three different medication regimen scenarios, those subjects not currently using anti-osteoporotic medications preferred a theoretical regimen which was daily and did not involve subsequent fasting and maintaining an upright posture.<P></P><I>Conclusions:</I> Our data suggest that compliance with osteoporotic medications could be improved if patients are able to choose a therapeutic regimen best suited to their particular needs. The majority of subjects preferred a drug which was taken daily and with minimal inconvenience, rather than a weekly drug with slightly more inconvenience. Given that most physicians currently prescribe anti-osteoporotic therapy as a weekly regimen, at the time of diagnosis physicians should ascertain which regimen would be most preferable to patients prior to initiating therapy.",
	pages = "293-299(7)",
	url = "http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/apl/cmro/2007/00000023/00000002/art00007"
	doi = "doi:10.1185/030079906X162764"
}