How pharmacists can encourage patient adherence to medicines

摘要

Non-adherence is one of the most important reasons for the failure of therapies, in countries where medicines are available for the greater part of the population, improving adherence "may have a far greater impact on the health of the population than any improvement in specific medical treatments". Optimal medicine adherence can be summarised as the following: The intake of the right medicine; At the right time; In the right dosage; For the prescribed duration; Without adding any uncontrolled self-medication.