Medication Adherence

As former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop said “Drugs don’t work if patients don’t take them.” Reasons for medication nonadherence include complex dosing regimens, poor health professional–patient communication, use of hard-copy prescriptions, and the cost of medication.

Numerous strategies, including educating patients, simplifying treatment, and coordinating patient care across the health care team, can improve adherence.