Medication adherence
Medication Adherence
Medication adherence (pronunciation: /mɛdɪˈkeɪʃən ədˈhɪərəns/) refers to the degree to which a patient correctly follows medical advice, most commonly in relation to taking prescribed medication. The term is derived from the Latin words 'medicatio' meaning 'healing' and 'adhaerens' meaning 'sticking to'.
Overview
Medication adherence is crucial for the effectiveness of treatment plans and to prevent adverse health outcomes. Non-adherence can lead to treatment failure, increased healthcare costs, and higher mortality rates. Factors influencing medication adherence include patient-related factors, medication-related factors, healthcare system-related factors, and socioeconomic factors.
Factors Influencing Medication Adherence
Patient-Related Factors
Patient-related factors include understanding of the disease and treatment, beliefs about the medication, forgetfulness, and fear of side effects. Health literacy plays a significant role in medication adherence.
Medication-Related Factors
Medication-related factors include complexity of the medication regimen, duration of therapy, immediate vs. delayed benefits of medication, side effects, and cost of medication.
Healthcare System-Related Factors
Healthcare system-related factors include the patient-healthcare provider relationship, communication between patient and provider, and accessibility of healthcare services.
Socioeconomic Factors
Socioeconomic factors include financial constraints, lack of social support, and cultural beliefs.
Related Terms
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Medication adherence
- Wikipedia's article - Medication adherence
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