The American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM) found that for every 100
prescriptions written, 50 – 70 are filled by the pharmacy, 48 – 66
are picked up, 25 – 30 are taken properly, and 15 – 20 are
refilled.1
It is widely accepted that patients who are not compliant with their
medication regimens have poorer outcomes and increased health care costs. A
wide range of factors affecting patient behavior creates challenges in finding
ways to improve overall medication adherence.
ACPM suggests that physicians can help improve adherence through the
following actions:
- Switch to 90-day supplies. Patients who are on a 90-day
supply have been shown to be more adherent than patients on a 30-day
supply.2 Talk to your patients about their willingness to switch to
a longer supply, which may both reduce the disturbance of going to the pharmacy
and increase the potential for improved adherence.
- Effective communication. Studies show that effective
communication between patients and physicians enables higher medication
adherence rates. This is attributed to trust in the physician, understanding
the medication?s benefits, and participatory decision-making. Follow these
tips:
- – Use the SIMPLE mnemonic to remember adherence-promoting
interventions. Learn more about SIMPLE here.
- – As prescribers, you have first-hand knowledge of non-adherence
predictors such as low health literacy, history of mental health issues,
beliefs that medications are harmful, or concerns about side effects or cost of
treatment. Consider referring your Independence patients to a Health Coach, who
can assist members with some of these barriers. To do so, fill out an online referral form or call 1-800-313-8628.
Effective two-way communication can double the odds of your patients taking
their medications properly, improving their health, and reducing visits to the
emergency room. For more information, please review ACMP?s Medication Adherence
Clinical Reference.
1Excerpted
with permission from the American College of Preventive Medicine. ?Medication
Adherence – Improving Health Outcomes? A Resource from the American
College of Preventive Medicine. 2011. Retrieved from http://www.acpm.org/?MedAdhereTTProviders.
2?Adherence
Improves With 90-Day Medication Supply.? April 7, 2010. Physicians
Practice. Available at: http://www.physicianspractice.com/articles/adherence-improves-90
-day-medication-supply.