Doctors everywhere have the same goal – to make patients healthier. However, all your efforts might go in vain due to a factor not completely under your control – your patients’ non-adherence to prescribed medication.

A study1 published in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that only 50% of patients adhere to their prescription. That’s right – only half of the patients you see everyday are likely to follow your instructions and complete their prescribed course!

The Impact of Non-Adherence

If patients do not stick to their prescribed course of medication, a doctor’s diagnostic efforts, attention and instructions all go in vain. This leads to patients not getting cured and in turn can affect your reputation as a doctor -even though it’s not your fault.

Globally, research on medication adherence suggests serious consequences of failing to adhere to the right medication course. Recent studies2,3 suggest that non-adherence leads to 125,000 deaths annually in the United States and 200,000 deaths every year in Europe.

More specifically, a study4 published in the American Heart Association’s journal established a strong correlation between missed medication and mortality rate in patients on a long course of statins. The risk of mortality in nonadherent patients was as high as 80%!

Apart from fatalities, poor adherence to medication also leads to increased chances of hospitalisation. The same study established a 40% increase in hospitalisation rates for nonadherent patients.

Practo’s solution

What if we tell you that there could be an easy way to solve this problem? Sending reminders to patients at the right time with the right dose would be a surefire way to make them take their medicines on time.

As a doctor, we know you care about your patients even after their consultation with you. We now want to help you deliver a great post-appointment experience while helping patients get better, sooner.

Watch this space for the upcoming announcement and subscribe to stay updated!

References:

  1. Osterberg, L, Blaschke, T. (2005). Adherence to Medication. New England Journal of Medicine. 2005; 353:487-497
  2. Atreja, A., Bellam, N., & Levy, S. R. (2005). Strategies to Enhance Patient Adherence: Making it Simple. Medscape General Medicine, 7(1), 4.
  3. Final Report Summary – MEDI-VOICE (A Low Cost, Environmentally Friendly, Smart Packaging Technology to Differentiate European SME Suppliers to Service the Need of Europe’s Aging Population). Last accessed 2nd Feb 2015
  4. Ho PM, Bryson CL, Rumsfeld JS. Medication adherence: its importance in cardiovascular outcomes. Circulation. 2009; 119: 3028–3035.