The importance of treatment adherence
Non-adherence is a widespread, global problem in patients suffering from chronic diseases and in developed countries adherence averages only 50%.1
Adherence to treatment means much more than a patient taking his or her medication correctly. It represents a broad spectrum of behaviours ranging from the occasional missed dose, to a patient’s complete avoidance of their therapy.2
The use of the term compliance has been now largely superseded by the use of the term adherence, to highlight that the patient is an ‘active’ rather than ‘passive’ participant in the management of their disease.2 Concordance, a term used predominantly in the UK, is used to describe the two-way consultation process in which doctor and patient work together to reach agreement on therapeutic decisions.2