For doctors

Though it’s easy to grasp why asymptomatic patients may be non-adherent, healthcare providers may be perplexed by non-adherence in patients who suffer from unpleasant symptoms. A 2021 study found that 45% of such patients were taking insufficient doses of their treatment despite experiencing symptoms ranging from irritating to incapacitating. “Adherence often goes unrecognized. We think…

Adherence can vary between patients or within the same patient over time and across treatments1. Prof. Rob Horne emphasized that non-adherence is a variable behavior, not a trait cemented into a patient’s personality. Horne commented: “We assume if we inform the patient and if they have the correct knowledge, then action will follow, but 50%…

my a:care is Abbott’s latest mobile application to support a patient’s adherence to medication through reminders, encouragement, and accountability, and by providing health information. my a:care app motivates behavior change by using attainable, measurable goals and easy to follow behavior changes rooted in established intervention methodology. Hear more about how my a:care app can improve a patient’s medication adherence rates, help…

Cardiovascular diseases are a perfect example of a chronic disease where motivational tools can improve adherence. For example, one in seven heart attack patients stop taking prescribed treatment one-month after receiving a stent which improves blood flow to the heart1,2. Understanding aspects of behavioral science, including Prochaska and Di Clemente’s Stages of Change Model, can help…

Medication adherence may be simple for acute, short-term diseases, but adherence becomes more difficult for chronic conditions when patients may not immediately realize the benefit of a treatment or intervention. Adherence is similarly difficult in patients with silent disorders, like hypertension, dyslipidemia or diabetes who are at risk of serious, life-threatening complications like stroke or heart attack.…

Globally, it’s estimated that 30-50% of medicines prescribed for long-term illnesses are not taken as directed1. In this session, Professor John Weinman highlights key factors for non-adherence and how behavioral science, combined with digital tools, may help remedy this issue. Prof. Weinman emphasized the need to raise awareness of the depth of non-adherence to medicines…

Treatment non-adherence in patients can be associated with lack of symptoms, interference with daily schedule, lack of understanding of disease or treatment, or fear of stigma associated with disease1.  This is especially the case with conditions like hypertension where many patients can be asymptomatic. However, medication non-adherence is not without consequences and can increase a…