Medication Adherence and Intervention Strategies: Why Should We Care

Abstract

Medication adherence is critical for managing chronic diseases. This review explores interventions across the three phases of adherence: initiation, implementation, and persistence. Patient education, digital tools, reminders, and pharmacist-led services have demonstrated effectiveness in improving adherence. Simplified treatment regimens and personalized strategies can address both practical barriers (e.g., forgetfulness) and perceptual barriers (e.g., doubts about necessity). Tools like the 15-STARS questionnaire help healthcare providers identify reasons for non-adherence and guide individualized interventions. Medication adherence is influenced by patient beliefs, treatment burden, and healthcare system factors. Effective interventions need to be tailored, multifaceted, and patient-centered. Improving long-term adherence requires a greater reliance on real-world evidence, deeper collaboration among stakeholders, and a stronger focus on understanding patients’ experiences through qualitative research. While multifactorial approaches offer the most promise, even well-designed single interventions can meaningfully improve adherence and persistence in clinical practice.