Promoting Medication Adherence in Older Adults … and the Rest of Us
- Barbara Kocurek, BS, PharmD, BCPS, CDE
Abstract
In Brief
C. Everett Koop, MD, said, “Drugs don't work in patients who don't take them.” There is a lot of evidence that patients are not taking their medications as prescribed. Lack of medication adherence contributes to poor patient outcomes and billions of health care dollars spent unnecessarily. This article reviews medication adherence in the United States, common reasons for lack of adherence, and strategies for improving medication-taking in patients.
Footnotes
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Barbara Kocurek, BS, PharmD, BCPS, CDE, is the diabetes education coordinator at Baylor Health Care System, in Irving, Texas.
- American Diabetes Association(R) Inc., 2009
