Why Electronic Compliance Monitoring?
Electronic Compliance Monitoring (ECM) is an effective and inexpensive means to support other support initiatives and provides an objective record of the dosing history during therapy. Three studies of TB patient compliance in the United States and developing countries using electronic compliance monitoring devices provided four main findings: (a) medication monitors clearly identified poor compliers, (b) health professionals had only modest success in predicting compliance, (c) a poor monitor record in the initial period of therapy predicted poor compliance and defaulting later in therapy, and (d) counseling the patient based on the monitor record reduced defaulting. eCAP and Med-ic can identify the good compliers who can take self administered treatment and the poor compliers that need special counseling, or directly observed therapy, and extensions in the duration of therapy.
