Engaging With Others Helps Medication Adherence

There are millions of reasons why people don’t take their medications. Actually, it’s more like billions.

In the United States where approximately 4 billion prescriptions are filled each year, as many as half the people don’t stick to their medication regimens. Up to 30% don’t even get their prescriptions filled, according to The Wall Street Journal.

And they all have a reason.

Their explanations run the gamut from common misconceptions that their medications won’t help to thinking they know their body better than their doctor does. Some say they forget or believe the medication may also cause them harm. Others simply can’t afford their medications. No matter what the reason, it’s a major concern in the healthcare community when patients are non-adherent with their medication.

The scoop on adherence

Basically, taking medication as prescribed is called adherence. Even though adherence can mean following any medical advice, it’s most commonly associated with prescription drugs. No matter what it’s called, non-adherence means patients are not following their doctor’s orders. That can have major repercussions.

Patients with easily-treatable conditions are often most negligent when it comes to adherence. A staggering 40% of people who take medication to treat a chronic or serious illness admit to not taking their medication as prescribed. Some of the main culprits include patients with common conditions, such as:

• hypertension
• high cholesterol
• diabetes
• thyroid disease
• heart disease
• cancer

Besides not getting better from conditions that can be alleviated or cured, like those listed above, non-adherence can have serious effects. Point blank, it shortens lives.

Sadly, approximately 125,000 deaths per year in the United States are linked to medication non-adherence. That’s 125,000 deaths too many. Countless more people are affected by patient non-adherence, especially when one considers the ripple effect from the death of a loved one.

Coupled with the loss of life, not taking medications has another huge effect on patients. Non-adherence puts a huge dent in patients’ pocketbooks. Astonishingly, Americans waste $290 billion in otherwise avoidable medical spending each year by not taking their medication, according to Healthcare Intelligence Network. But how do we get them to be more adherent?

Fixing the problem

The best way to get people to take their medication is actually very simple – communication. When patients engage with others who have similar conditions, with their family and friends, or even with their medical professionals, they can better understand the importance of taking their medications. Here are a few simple ways engaging with others can help with adherence:

• Patients can ask their doctor or pharmacist why they’re taking the medication or what to do if they skip a dose. They can even express their worries if the medication costs more than they can afford.

• Once back at home, patients often forget what they were told or get confused. Chatting in online patient forums can be helpful. Peers who are taking the same medications can explain firsthand the side effects and expected results.

• Since one of the most common reasons of non-adherence is simply forgetting to take their prescriptions, helpful tools such as smartphone apps and digital trackers can remind patients when it’s time to take their medications.

Patients make the effort to visit their doctor when they need medical attention, but then don’t follow what their doctor advises. When they don’t follow their doctor’s orders – including being non-adherent – they’re limiting the possibility of improving their wellness.  By just taking their medication, and engaging with others when they need help with their adherence, billions of Americans could be enjoying healthier lives.