An educational booklet did not improve adherence or symptoms in patients prescribed thyroxine for primary hypothyroidism
Q Does an educational booklet addressing lay health beliefs about medicine-taking improve adherence in patients prescribed thyroxine for primary hypothyroidism?
METHODS
Design:
randomised controlled trial.
Allocation:
{not concealed}.*
Blinding:
blinded (laboratory staff assessing thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH] assays).
Follow up period:
median 96 days.
Setting:
3 suburban general practices (18 physicians) in northwest England, UK.
Patients:
332 patients ⩾18 years of age (mean age 62 y, 92% women) who were taking a stable dose of thyroxine (ie, dose unchanged over the previous 8 wks) for primary hypothyroidism caused by thyroidectomy, radio-iodine treatment, or autoimmune thyroiditis. Patients with serious illness were excluded.
Intervention:
166 patients were allocated to receive an educational booklet by post a few days after the initial assessment; …
