How do we better translate adherence research into improvements in patient care?

• Published in: International journal of clinical pharmacy Vol. 36; no. 1; pp. 10 - 14
• Main Authors: La Caze, Adam, Gujral, Gina, Cottrell, William Neil
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.02.2014; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Chronic Disease; Commentary; Compliance; Drug therapy; Humans; Internal Medicine; Medication Adherence; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Patient Care; Patient Education as Topic; Patients; Pharmacy; Translational Medical Research - methods
• ISSN: 2210-7703; 2210-7711
• DOI: 10.1007/s11096-013-9869-6

Adherence to medicines in patients with chronic disease remains poor despite better recognition of the challenges of non-adherence and a concerted effort to address these challenges. Adherence research has progressed in recent years, both conceptually with the recent development of a taxonomy of adherence and improved, if still awed, evidence for the efcacy of some interventions. However, a key challenge remains unmet: the translation of adherence research into clear advice for health professionals of effective strategies to better support the medication adherence of their patients. We outline some of the difficulties of improving the translation of adherence research into improvements in the care of individuals with chronic disease, and consider possible solutions. We have two suggestions for improving translation of adherence research: (1) better incorporation of what we know about adherence into interventions to improve adherence and (2) more sophisticated measurements of adherence. Implementing these suggestions has implications for research and practice.