TY - JOUR
T1 - The rates and measurement of adherence to acamprosate in randomised controlled clinical trials
T2 - A systematic review
AU - Donoghue, Kim
AU - Hermann, Laura
AU - Brobbin, Eileen
AU - Drummond, Colin
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Donoghue et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
PY - 2022/2
Y1 - 2022/2
N2 - Aim The current research aims to systematically review the rates of adherence reported in randomised controlled clinical trials of acamprosate. It also sought to determine the reliability of the adherence monitoring and measurement methods used in these trials. Methods The protocol for this review was pre-registered (PROSPERO: CRD42021230011). A search of the literature was conducted using OVID MEDLINE, Embase and PsycINFO from database inception to January 2021. Randomised controlled trials with a minimum sample size of 10 per treatment arm that compared the efficacy of acamprosate with placebo or other active medication in adults with a diagnosis of alcohol dependence were included. Data on rates of adherence, methods of measurement and monitoring of adherence was extracted from eligible studies independently in duplicate by two reviewers. A weighted mean adherence rate was calculated. The reliability of adherence monitoring methods was determined by calculating an adherence-assurance score based on the adherence monitoring method used. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. Results Fifteen studies met the eligibility criteria involving 4,450 participants (2,480 participants in the placebo arms). A mean adherence rate of 88% (54.2-95.0%) was reported across studies that reported the percentage of medication taken. A mean adherence rate of 84.9% (56.4-91.3%) was reported for trials that reported the percentage of participants taking more than 80% of medication prescribed. There is low confidence in the methods used to monitor adherence with all clinical trials having a low adherence-assurance rating. Risk of bias was judged to be high for all included studies. Conclusions Adherence to acamprosate in clinical trials can be poor with low confidence in the methods used to measure it. Adherence rates therefore might not be accurate, which has implications for determining the efficacy of acamprosate.
AB - Aim The current research aims to systematically review the rates of adherence reported in randomised controlled clinical trials of acamprosate. It also sought to determine the reliability of the adherence monitoring and measurement methods used in these trials. Methods The protocol for this review was pre-registered (PROSPERO: CRD42021230011). A search of the literature was conducted using OVID MEDLINE, Embase and PsycINFO from database inception to January 2021. Randomised controlled trials with a minimum sample size of 10 per treatment arm that compared the efficacy of acamprosate with placebo or other active medication in adults with a diagnosis of alcohol dependence were included. Data on rates of adherence, methods of measurement and monitoring of adherence was extracted from eligible studies independently in duplicate by two reviewers. A weighted mean adherence rate was calculated. The reliability of adherence monitoring methods was determined by calculating an adherence-assurance score based on the adherence monitoring method used. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. Results Fifteen studies met the eligibility criteria involving 4,450 participants (2,480 participants in the placebo arms). A mean adherence rate of 88% (54.2-95.0%) was reported across studies that reported the percentage of medication taken. A mean adherence rate of 84.9% (56.4-91.3%) was reported for trials that reported the percentage of participants taking more than 80% of medication prescribed. There is low confidence in the methods used to monitor adherence with all clinical trials having a low adherence-assurance rating. Risk of bias was judged to be high for all included studies. Conclusions Adherence to acamprosate in clinical trials can be poor with low confidence in the methods used to measure it. Adherence rates therefore might not be accurate, which has implications for determining the efficacy of acamprosate.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85124020391&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0263350
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0263350
M3 - Article
C2 - 35113930
AN - SCOPUS:85124020391
SN - 1932-6203
VL - 17
JO - PLoS ONE
JF - PLoS ONE
IS - 2
M1 - e0263350
ER -