Klin Farmakol Farm. 2024;38(1):15-21 | DOI: 10.36290/far.2024.007

Medication adherence - the way to understand patients

Patricia Schnorrerova¹, Petra Matalova², Martin Wawruch¹

¹ Institute of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia

² Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc and University Hospital Olomouc, Czech Republic

The aims of this review are to explore the critical issue of medication adherence, which is essential for effective healthcare outcomes but remains a significant challenge. The review delves into the diverse aspects of non-adherence, including patient perceptions, economic challenges, and complex treatment regimens. It emphasizes the importance of accurate adherence assessments, particularly through self-report questionnaires and retrospective database analyses. The review also explores the historical evolution of adherence concepts and highlights the critical role of pharmacists in educating patients and managing medication regimens. The importance of recognizing and addressing medication non-adherence as a significant health policy issue is underscored, advocating for improved measurement methods and interventions such as multidrug punch cards and medication charts. The review advocates for a patient-centered approach and multidisciplinary collaboration in healthcare, aiming to enhance healthcare outcomes and medication adherence through systemic changes. It also underscores the need for empowering pharmacists with expanded roles and appropriate tools within healthcare systems to further improve patient outcomes.

Keywords: medication adherence, adherence barriers, patient adherence, survey and questionnaires, self-report

Accepted: March 26, 2024; Published: April 8, 2024  Show citation