What can be done to improve medicines adherence?

Abstract

Background: Low rates of patients adhering to their medications is a major healthcare problem. This results in increased costs for healthcare providers. Aim: This review aimed to understand the causes and consequences of medicines nonadherence and to suggest effective methods to improve adherence. Method: The review focused on studies with primary outcome aimed at the impact of improving adherence on health outcomes and healthcare costs. Studies were appraised for their appropriateness as evidence using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tool. An initial scoping search was carried out on the following databases: Cochrane Library, PubMed, BMJ, and NICE. A total of 63 literary sources were used (systemic reviews, trials, reports, studies) and a further 6 sources were used to provide definitions. The data was interpreted to detect for bias. Conclusion: This review highlights the need for further research to further understand the relationship between intentional and unintentional nonadherence among different patient groups, conditions and types of treatment. There is also need for research that are directly aiming to understand patient beliefs about and their medication adherence barriers; the financial cost of medicines nonadherence and developing models to improve integration between healthcare professions.