I cannot – apparently – resist the notion of patient compliance as a festive event. Ongoing readers may recall my enthusiastic post, Celebrating Compliance, about a campaign to increase the participation of African gold miners in a tuberculosis treatment program by “organiz[ing] a rally to promote adherence to the program, featuring songs, dancing and testimonials.”
This is offered as an explanation of why, when I had indicated that the AlignMap1 posts for the next few days would be dedicated to practical tips for decreasing unintentional medication noncompliance, I have inserted this report on a campaign by an Orlando radiology center to enhance compliance with mammogram screening for breast cancer by hosting Midnight Mammogram parties, replete with food, drink, and pedicures.2
This post can be found on the AlignMap site at
Compliance Enhancement: Party, Pedicure, and Potables.
Under the no good deed goes unpunished category.
“An outbreak of mycobacterial furunculosis associated with footbaths at a nail salon” Winthrop KL et al
NEJM 346:1366-1371, 2002. Plus numerous other articles in the literature. Compliance enhancement: The gift that keeps on giving?
When I went to my doctor’s appointment yesterday I was surprised to see that it was Spa Day at the oncology center. There was a sampling of beauty products for the patients to try (and order) while waiting for appointments. I can’t say that it thrilled me. Maybe I was too focused on the needles and blood count issues.