ABSTRACT
As managed care pharmacy continues to grow and medication costs increase, pharmacy managers are continually looking for ways to reengineer distributive services to provide the most cost-effective care. In an effort to save money, the San Diego Veterans Affairs Healthcare System (SDVAHS) and other health systems have implemented tablet-splitting programs targeted at high-cost and widely prescribed medications. Despite this growing practice, published research examining the effects on compliance rates, patient acceptance, and actual cost savings is lacking. A recent computer-assisted literature search revealed only one study of tablet splitting that addressed patient compliance and acceptance. In that study, patients taking lovastatin and using a tablet splitter were mailed a questionnaire to assess their impressions of tablet splitting. A majority of the patients found tablet splitters easy to use and reported that compliance was not hindered. However, compliance was subjectively evaluated through patients' responses to questions; actual tablet counts were not performed. Furthermore, actual cost savings (if any) were not determined.
