Adherence
Adherence
Adherence (/ədˈhɪərəns/), also known as medication adherence, is the act of taking medication as prescribed by a healthcare provider. It is a critical factor in determining the success of treatment.
Etymology
The term "adherence" is derived from the Latin word "adhaerere", which means "to stick to" or "to cling to". In the context of healthcare, it refers to the patient's ability and willingness to follow prescribed treatment regimens.
Related Terms
- Compliance: This term is often used interchangeably with adherence, but it has a slightly different connotation. Compliance implies a passive following of instructions, while adherence suggests an active, voluntary involvement in the treatment process.
- Persistence: This refers to the duration of time that a patient continues to take their medication as prescribed. It is a component of adherence.
- Concordance: This is a more recent term that emphasizes the agreement between the patient and healthcare provider about the treatment plan. It goes beyond adherence and compliance to include shared decision-making.
Importance of Adherence
Adherence is crucial in healthcare as it directly affects the effectiveness of treatment. Non-adherence can lead to treatment failure, increased healthcare costs, and poor health outcomes. Factors influencing adherence include patient-related factors (e.g., understanding of the disease and treatment, beliefs about medication, forgetfulness), healthcare system-related factors (e.g., patient-provider relationship, accessibility of healthcare services), and medication-related factors (e.g., complexity of medication regimen, side effects).
Measuring Adherence
There are several methods to measure adherence, including self-report measures, pill counts, pharmacy refill records, and electronic monitoring devices. Each method has its strengths and limitations, and the choice of method depends on the context and purpose of the measurement.
Improving Adherence
Strategies to improve adherence include patient education, simplifying medication regimens, using reminder systems, and providing social support. Healthcare providers play a crucial role in promoting adherence by building a good patient-provider relationship, providing clear instructions, and addressing patient concerns about the medication.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Adherence
- Wikipedia's article - Adherence
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski