ABSTRACT
Adherence to prescribed medical regimens continues to be a challenge for both patients and their healthcare providers. On average, patient adherence is 50 per cent for uncomplicated treatment regimens, such as taking one medication. Unfortunately, the more typical patient seen in the healthcare setting has multiple disorders resulting in a more complex treatment regimen and greater expectations of the patient. From the patient’s perspective, these treatments often require self-management or home caregiver management, as in the case of patients with physical disabilities or a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Within complex healthcare systems, patients are confronted with issues related to self-management, such as the constraints imposed by limited resources (e.g. financial, time, support) and inadequate information. Providers find that the complex system and the limited time that they spend with patients tax their ability to adequately assess patient treatment adherence and implement corresponding intervention strategies. The World Health Organization (2003) defined treatment adherence as the level of correspondence between the patient’s behavior to implement a treatment plan (e.g. medications, diet, and/or lifestyle changes) and the regimen offered by the healthcare provider. This definition requires an active patient-provider partnership and good communication between the partners to identify and enact the treatment plan.
