Optimizing Adherence to Pharmaceutical Care Plans
Optimizing Adherence to Pharmaceutical Care Plans
Nonadherence can be viewed as a behavioral disorder -- a condition that is best treated by identifying individual risk factors and designing targeted interventions.
In the past few decades, hundreds of research articles have been published on nonadherence, and dozens of devices and programs have been developed to assess and resolve adherence-related problems. Yet, despite the tremendous efforts of pharmacists and other health care providers, medication nonadherence remains a major public health problem. Indeed, the National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE) has aptly termed noncompliance "America's other drug problem."
Pharmacists are in an ideal position to assess and treat adherence-related problems that can adversely affect patients' health outcomes. Strategies to monitor and improve adherence are key components of pharmaceutical care plans, especially for patients with chronic diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, and atherosclerotic heart disease.
This article looks at nonadherence from a relatively new perspective: as a behavioral disorder that can be assessed and managed through a carefully devised pharmaceutical care plan. In this article, we review the behavioral and social factors that influence adherence, highlight the high-risk populations that are especially vulnerable to nonadherence, and present best practice strategies that could serve as appropriate models for pharmaceutical care services.
Abstract and Program Preview
Abstract
Nonadherence can be viewed as a behavioral disorder -- a condition that is best treated by identifying individual risk factors and designing targeted interventions.
Program Preview
In the past few decades, hundreds of research articles have been published on nonadherence, and dozens of devices and programs have been developed to assess and resolve adherence-related problems. Yet, despite the tremendous efforts of pharmacists and other health care providers, medication nonadherence remains a major public health problem. Indeed, the National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE) has aptly termed noncompliance "America's other drug problem."
Pharmacists are in an ideal position to assess and treat adherence-related problems that can adversely affect patients' health outcomes. Strategies to monitor and improve adherence are key components of pharmaceutical care plans, especially for patients with chronic diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, and atherosclerotic heart disease.
This article looks at nonadherence from a relatively new perspective: as a behavioral disorder that can be assessed and managed through a carefully devised pharmaceutical care plan. In this article, we review the behavioral and social factors that influence adherence, highlight the high-risk populations that are especially vulnerable to nonadherence, and present best practice strategies that could serve as appropriate models for pharmaceutical care services.
