Patient adherence to prescribed treatment is a well-recognized contribution to optimal patient outcomes. Yet only an estimated 50% of patients take their medications as prescribed, and the longer patients remain on therapy the more likely they are to skip doses. Adherence is considered a patient problem- yet research implies that physicians and the health care system both contribute to patient adherence.
Understanding the forces that impact adherence uncovers gaps in knowledge, attitude, and behavior that can be addressed through continuing medical education. This needs assessment systematically evaluates the patient adherence through:
• Literature analysis of adherence factors as well as validated strategies to improve adherence.
• Evaluation of forces surrounding adherence in asthma, diabetes, and hypertension and implication for other chronic disease states.
• Interviews with stakeholders including physicians, licensed health care professionals and patients to identify issues surrounding adherence.
• Analysis from the Change Readiness Inventory® completed by practicing physicians. The CRI was developed based on guidelines, literature, interview findings and expert opinion to evaluate perceived needs, forces/images/attitudes of change, and barriers to change
• Two meta-analyses exploring the impact of adherence interventions on patient outcomes in asthma and diabetes
• Analysis of the role of medical education can play in changing physician behavior
