Dive Brief:
- People who are prescribed self-administered medications typically take only about half their prescribed doses, in spite of enormous efforts to get them to do so, according to new research published in The Cochrane Library.
- The updated study assessed the effects of interventions designed to enhance patient adherence to prescribed medications for various medical conditions; both medication adherence and clinical outcomes were measured. Still, researchers found effects were inconsistent from study to study.
- The conclusion: Researchers say the field needs advances, including improved design of feasible long-term interventions.
Dive Insight:
The research, while disappointing, isn't surprising. And to some extent, a patient's decision whether to take their medication in a timely manner is out of clinicians' hands. However, technology does hold promise in this area. Smartphone-based reminders are helpful to patients of all ages who might otherwise forget to take their daily pill. And patient portals are becoming easier to use. Today's portals allow patients to access pertinent health information via the Web, request refills of medications and communicate issues or questions to physicians, among other things.