Validation of the electronic prescription as a method for measuring treatment adherence in hypertension.

Objective: To validate electronic prescriptions (e-prescriptions) as a method for measuring treatment adherence in patients with hypertension.

Methods: This prospective study initially included 120 patients treated for hypertension in primary care centers. Adherence was measured using the gold standard, the medication event monitoring system (MEMS), versus the index test, the e-prescription program, at baseline and at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months.