References
Medication adherence: understanding the issues and finding solutions
Abstract
Medication is the most frequent treatment intervention, and its success depends on patients taking their medicines in line with their prescribed regimen to yield the full benefit of the treatment. Adherence is especially difficult to ensure in those with multimorbidity, who take multiple medications to manage their conditions. Non-adherence is costly for the health service, both through wastage and increased ill-health. Non-adherence may be intentional or non-intentional, and many factors affect an individual's compliance with a medication regimen. There are a variety of aids that may be helpful; however, the interaction with a health professional is very important, both for understanding the reason for non-adherence and for promoting adherence.
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the imperative that people should self-manage their long-term conditions as much as possible, both to maximise their own health gain and quality of life, as well as to avoid the unnecessary use of limited healthcare resources at a time when those resources are under increased demand. Many district nursing clients will be taking more than four medicines with different regimens over a long period of time, and, therefore, it is likely that there will be some non-adherence.
A key element of effective self-management of many long-term conditions is adherence to the prescribed regimen, which may include medication at particular times, as well as other self-care activities, such as adequate hydration, a nutritious diet, exercise or physical activities within capabilities and sufficient rest. This article explores the evidence regarding non-adherence and potential strategies to promote adherence, so that district nurses may better understand the factors underlying non-adherence and their clients' perspective as a precursor to supporting their clients' medication needs.
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