METHODS

Design:

randomised controlled trial.

Allocation:

{concealed*}†.

Blinding:

{unblinded}†.*

Follow up period:

2 years or until death (mean 23.2 mo).

Setting:

specialist medical clinics in the Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong, China.

Patients:

patients who were prescribed ⩾5 drugs on ⩾2 consecutive clinic visits were assessed for compliance with the drug regimen. 442 patients 34–96 years of age (mean age 71y, 51% women) who were non-compliant enrolled in the study 12–16 weeks later. Patients were excluded if they received supervised treatment in nursing homes, were deaf or mute, had dementia or other psychological disorders, or spoke non-Cantonese dialects or other languages.

Intervention:

telephone intervention (n = 219) or no …