Medication adherence report reveals need for patient-specific interventions

RIDGEFIELD, Conn. The 2009 “Medication Adherence” study, commissioned by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, finds that medication nonadherence and noncompliance transcends demographics and a majority of known disease states, suggesting that nonadherence and noncompliance behavior could be about a patient’s attitudes and beliefs relating to taking prescription medication.

“Adherence is critical right now,” said Mare Lynn Fitch, associate director of pharmacy development, trade relations, BIPI.

The 2009 Medication Adherence study was conducted online between Feb. 26 and March 1, and is based on 1,015 completed interviews. Because adherence and compliance issues are greater among adults with chronic illnesses, and because the incidence of chronic illness increases with age, the survey sample consists of individuals ages 45 and older who were taking medications for one or more chronic conditions.

According to the National Council on Patient Information and Education, the effects of medication non-adherence are far-reaching, with financial implications for the pharmaceutical and medical industries and potentially deadly consequences for some patients.

Fitch explained that a strategy is being developed to implement a pilot program in targeted markets that will assess a tool to assist pharmacists in administering patient-specific interventions to increase medication adherence and compliance.

“We commissioned the study to gain a better understanding behind the reasons why an individual patient may not be adherent or compliant, and then identify patient-specific intervention strategies tailored to those reasons,” Fitch said.

A full report of the survey results are found in the Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmacy Satisfaction 2009 Medication Adherence Report, which will be available at the NACDS 2009 Pharmacy & Technology Conference in August, and online in the early fall.