Learn why medication adherence is important, the risks involved in nonadherence, and how pharmacists and providers play a vital role in compliance.
Introduction
Forgetting to take medication happens to almost everyone at some point. Busy schedules, stress, and daily distractions can make it easy to miss a dose or delay treatment. However, medication adherence plays a critical role in maintaining overall health and preventing complications.
Medication nonadherence is especially concerning in patients with chronic diseases, which remain one of the leading causes of disability and death in the United States. Chronic illnesses account for most of the nation’s estimated $4.5 trillion in annual healthcare expenditures (Worrall et al., 2025). Even occasional missed doses can negatively affect treatment outcomes, increase healthcare costs, and worsen disease progression.
Impacts of Nonadherence
Failing to take medications as prescribed can lead to serious consequences, including:
- Increased morbidity
- Higher mortality rates
- More frequent hospitalizations
- Increased healthcare costs
- Poor disease management
It is important to note, however, that many times nonadherence isn’t because of a patient’s ignorance. Research shows that about 50% of the world’s population is nonadherent to medication, linked strongly to financial and resource difficulty (Maniki et al., 2024). Other barriers include forgetfulness and incomplete education from the provider to the patient. Providers and pharmacists should work together with the patient to understand the cause of the nonadherence to improve the patient’s outcomes.
Strategies to Improve Medication Adherence
The best way to combat nonadherence is through the pharmacy staff. When multiple medications are prescribed, and the patient is not fully compliant, it could lead to serious side effects, adverse reactions, and increased healthcare costs. This makes the fight against nonadherence vital.
Empowering the patient is a useful tool to combat nonadherence (Maniki et al., 2024). Examples of good ways to do this are:
- Including the patient in important decision-making steps
- Open communication with the patient regarding illness and treatment
- Educating the patient on updated news regarding treatment and their medications
- Checking in with the patient frequently to ensure there are no questions or doubts
Smartphones and other technology have become a good tool in improving compliance. Many of us are guilty of always having our phones in our hands, so the use of mobile apps as a method to combat nonadherence could be a great start for reminders. Additionally, apps can also aid in the education and monitoring of the patient’s compliance. While some patients only need reminders, others may need additional resources (Al-Arkee et al., 2021). Mobile health technology offers a convenient and accessible way to improve long-term medication adherence.
Cardiovascular Disease Example for Medication Adherence
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the clearest examples of why medication adherence is vital to patient care. CVDs account for about one-third of all deaths around the world (Al-Arkee et al., 2021). The number of deaths can decrease significantly with proper long-term use of prescribed medication; however, many patients are nonadherent to their treatment.
This is the perfect example to show how important adherence to prescribed medication is. Patients are having difficulty with medication adherence, even though taking their medication appropriately can make a big impact on their lives. Despite the proven benefits of the drug, many patients do not find medication adherence necessary, which leads to a decline in the drug’s potential. This emphasizes the importance of the role providers and pharmacists play in identifying nonadherence and working with the patients as to why they are having difficulty. Upon the discussion, a plan of action can be made to bring the patient back to taking their medication effectively and correctly.
Conclusion
Medication adherence is essential for reducing healthcare costs, preventing hospitalizations, and improving patient outcomes. Although barriers such as forgetfulness, financial stress, and limited education can make adherence difficult, healthcare providers can help patients overcome these challenges through communication, education, and support. Pharmacists are often the most accessible healthcare professionals, allowing them to identify barriers more quickly and provide support to the patient.
Tools such as medication reminder apps, pill organizers, and patient-centered counseling can make a meaningful difference in helping patients take medications safely and consistently.
References
Al-Arkee, S., Mason, J., Lane, D. A., Fabritz, L., Chua, W., Haque, M. S., & Jalal, Z. (2021). Mobile Apps to Improve Medication Adherence in Cardiovascular Disease: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. J Med Internet Res, 23(5), e24190. https://doi.org/10.2196/24190
Maniki, P. T., Chaar, B. B., & Aslani, P. (2024). Impact of Interventions on Medication Adherence in Patients With Coexisting Diabetes and Hypertension. Health Expect, 27(5), e70010. https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.70010