However, clinical professionals frequently encounter uncertainty regarding patient adherence to medication protocols. Contributing factors include patients' lack of involvement in decision-making and confusion about prescriptions and procedures.
Studies indicate that up to 50% of individuals do not take their medication as prescribed.
Medication adherence is often the determining factor between patient recovery and deterioration of health.
Non-adherence has been associated with drug resistance, accelerated disease progression, irreversible health complications, and increased mortality.
To achieve improved clinical outcomes, it is essential to implement patient-centered solutions that address the underlying causes of non-adherence.
Benefits of medication adherence extend beyond avoiding the risks above. When a patient follows their prescription to the letter, adherence can help:
To improve medication adherence, consider implementing the following strategies in combination.
Patients are primarily responsible for medication adherence; thus, patient education is a fundamental strategy for improvement.
Research demonstrates that, on average, patients retain only half of the information discussed during consultations with medical professionals.
Patient education encompasses more than disease-specific programs. It also involves directing patients to additional professionals who can provide advice and support, such as:
Practical strategies to enhance patient education
Medication Adherence: WHO Cares? (Mayo Clin Proc. 2011 Apr;86(4):304–314. doi: 10.4065/mcp.2010.0575 ) https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3068890/
2) Patient Empowerment
Educating and informing patients plays a crucial role in empowering them and giving them a sense of control over their treatment. Something as simple as asking the patient what time of day is best for them to take their medication can have a huge impact.
One way to strengthen empowerment is self-monitoring (also known as self-tracking, biomonitoring, or health and wellness monitoring). Self-monitoring is among the many patient monitoring techniques that not only track a patient’s progress, but can also support awareness of medication intake and effectiveness.
A common example is self-monitoring blood pressure at home, which has been used to help people with hypertension track progress without needing to visit the clinic as often.
Remote devices and patient-friendly monitoring routines can help patients work more closely with their care team and have more agency in managing their health to get things back on track.
Applying this approach to additional aspects of diagnosis and treatment, such as remote blood collection, further enhances patient autonomy and increases the likelihood of adherence to medication regimens, thereby supporting ongoing well-being.
Evidence also indicates that volumetric absorptive microsampling (VAMS) can be utilized for adherence monitoring in therapeutic drug monitoring contexts. (link.springer.com)
Practical strategies to enhance patient empowerment
Although many patients intend to adhere to prescribed medication regimens, financial constraints can significantly impede their ability to do so. Common challenges include:
Facilitating access to financial assistance, offering appointments at convenient times, and enabling at-home monitoring through technological advancements, such as remote blood collection, can substantially improve medication adherence.
Additionally, self-monitoring and remote monitoring approaches reduce the frequency of clinic visits, allowing patients to maintain employment while remaining engaged in their care. Practical strategies to address economic constraints
Trust, respect, and understanding, established by considering patients’ religious and cultural beliefs and attitudes, are essential for promoting medication adherence.
Physicians should explain the composition of medications and, when necessary, offer alternative therapies that align with the patient's beliefs.
Patients who trust their physicians are more likely to adhere to prescribed medication regimens. Practical strategies to enhance patient–physician relationships
Adverse effects of medication are a significant concern for many patients. Encountering information about potential side effects solely through medication package inserts can be overwhelming and distressing.
Physicians can significantly improve medication adherence by explaining potential adverse effects, their likelihood, and appropriate actions to take if they occur. Practical strategies to mitigate adverse effects
Closing the gap — development of an analytical methodology using volumetric absorptive microsampling of finger prick blood followed by LC-HRMS/MS for adherence monitoring of antihypertensive drugs ( Research Paper. Published: 01 November 2022. Volume 415, pages 167–177, (2023) https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00216-022-04394-9
No single approach is sufficient in isolation. To substantially improve medication adherence across patient populations, these strategies should be integrated into a comprehensive, patient-centered framework that combines clear education, shared decision-making, relationship-centered care, side-effect management, and, when appropriate, self-monitoring options such as digital tools, wearable devices, and remote specimen collection.