Advancing the Science and Practice of Medication Adherence

J Gen Intern Med. 2018 Feb;33(2):216-222. doi: 10.1007/s11606-017-4198-4.

Abstract

Medication adherence remains a significant unmet challenge for optimizing patient outcomes. Recent advances in the conceptualization, measurement, and support of medication adherence offer fresh opportunities to make a meaningful impact on adherence-related behavior and outcomes. These advances emphasize the multifaceted and dynamic nature of medication adherence, provide novel methods for monitoring medication adherence in clinical care, and articulate a set of multilevel strategies to more effectively improve and sustain medication adherence. Here, we offer recommendations for how clinicians can better engage with, and benefit from, these innovations to improve patient medication adherence and associated treatment outcomes.

Keywords: adherence; adherence interventions; adherence measures; medication adherence; persistence.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biomedical Research
  • Humans
  • Medication Adherence*