Medication adherence

Medication adherence refers to the degree to which a patient correctly follows medical advice. Most commonly, it refers to medication or drug compliance, but it can also apply to other situations such as medical device use, self care, self-directed exercises, or therapy sessions. Both the patient and the healthcare provider affect medication adherence. A high degree of non-adherence can lead to negative outcomes, including increased hospitalizations and death.

Definition

Medication adherence is commonly defined as the degree to which patients take medications as prescribed by their healthcare providers. This can include timing, dosage, and frequency. A patient who is non-adherent may be underusing, overusing, or misusing medications. Non-adherence can include delaying or not filling a prescription, skipping doses, discontinuing medication early, or taking extra doses.

Factors affecting adherence

Several factors can affect medication adherence. These include:

• Patient factors: These can include forgetfulness, lack of health literacy, lack of motivation, or physical impairments that make it difficult to take medication.
• Healthcare provider factors: These can include the provider-patient relationship, communication style, and the complexity of the prescribed medication regimen.
• Healthcare system factors: These can include access to medications, cost of medications, and the complexity of the healthcare system.

Consequences of non-adherence

Non-adherence can lead to a variety of negative outcomes. These can include:

• Health outcomes: Non-adherence can lead to poor health outcomes, including increased hospitalizations and death.
• Economic outcomes: Non-adherence can also lead to increased healthcare costs, both for the individual and for the healthcare system.

Strategies to improve adherence

Several strategies can be used to improve medication adherence. These can include:

• Patient education: This can include teaching patients about their condition, the importance of adherence, and how to manage their medications.
• Healthcare provider training: This can include training providers in communication skills and strategies to improve adherence.
• Healthcare system changes: This can include reducing the cost of medications, simplifying the medication regimen, and improving access to care.

See also

• Patient compliance
• Health literacy
• Healthcare provider
• Healthcare system

Medication adherence Resources
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