Title : Medication non adherence in community dwelling adults
Abstract:
As our population ages, attention is shifting from acute illness to chronic disease management; hence, the problem of poor medication adherence is a paramount concern to everyone in the healthcare system. The concern arises from the potential for poor adherence, which rises with the length and complexity of treatment regimens, as both long duration and complex treatment are linked with chronic illnesses. Regardless of condition or chronicity, adherence is the most important modifiable influence on treatment outcome. Poor adherence renders treatment useless. It is vitally important that nurses and healthcare providers receive education on medication nonadherence's prevalence, causes, consequences, and methods for monitoring medication adherence. Factors influencing medication nonadherence fall into five broad categories: patient-related, condition-related, treatment-related, health-system-related, and socioeconomic factors. Knowledge of the elements within each category assists nurses and healthcare providers in understanding reasons for nonadherence and developing strategies to improve adherence.
