Measures and predictors of varenicline adherence in the treatment of nicotine dependence.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

While adherence to medication in smoking cessation clinical trials is strongly associated with clinical outcome, very few studies have evaluated the validity of pill count as a measure of adherence relative to a biological assay, and evaluated a broad range of correlates of adherence.

Methods

In a smoking cessation clinical trial of varenicline, we compared pill counts collected over 4 different time periods to varenicline salivary levels taken after 2weeks of treatment, as well as evaluated predictors of adherence to varenicline.

Results

Using a binary measure of adherence based on salivary varenicline levels, adherence was higher among older, white, and more educated participants. Relative to 3, 7, and 14-day pill count, 12-week pill count was the only

SUBMITTER: Peng AR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5581992 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature