Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Medically reviewed and verified by Kate Burke, MD, MHA
Medication adherence, or taking medications exactly as prescribed, is a crucial part of managing an illness. Treatment plans are effective if and when the patient sticks to the routine. For example, medications like selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), common antidepressants, require consistent daily intake for several weeks to be effective. Without adherence, these drugs might not work! This can potentially lead to unresolved health issues and unnecessary changes in medication or dosage.
Adhering to medication schedules can also prevent chronic conditions from progressing further. If you don't take your blood pressure medication as prescribed, it can lead to severe complications like heart disease, kidney failure, or stroke. Up to 50% of patients with chronic diseases do not stick to their medication regimen. That leads to about 100,000 unnecessary deaths and over $100 billion in preventable medical costs each year! Medication adherence is vital in helping people achieve the best possible health outcomes.
Why is Medication Adherence a Challenge?
Despite the clear benefits, many people struggle with medication adherence. This is nothing to be ashamed of! Recognizing the common pitfalls may help. Studies have found 7 different barriers that people tend to run into.
- Formulation
- Taste of tablets
- Shape of tablets
- Size of tablets
- Swallowing difficulties
- Inconvenience caused by injections
- Instructions for Use
- Dosing frequency
- Total number of medicines needed to take
- Storage of medication
- Restrictions while on the medicine
- Administration requirements
- Variable dose pattern
- Side effects
- Therapeutic drug monitoring requirements
- Issues with Remembering
- Busy schedule
- Difficulties establishing medication routine
- Capability - Knowledge and Skills
- Reading and understanding dispensing labels
- Difficulties with opening container/packaging
- Not understanding health provider instructions
- Being confused or having difficulty identifying what each of medicine does
- Calculating correct dose
- Cutting pills to get correct dose
- Knowing names of medicines
- Knowing time of administration, how to take, why they are on the medication, amount to take
- Financial
- Direct: Cost of medication
- Indirect: Travel fares, monitoring costs to treat your disease/other costs
- General financial difficulties: Meeting insurance or medication funding criteria
- Medication Supply
- Pharmacy does not have supply
- Patient has run out of medications
- Needing to obtain refills or scripts
- Not having medicine on hand
- Not knowing where or how to get supply
- Transport issues to access healthcare or problems with collecting medicines
- Social Environment
- Social influences (e.g., reluctance to take medication in front of friends or in a public place)
- Embarrassment around medication-taking
- Stigma associated with certain medication
Understanding these barriers can help you overcome the difficulties of staying on a medication schedule. Whether it's for 3 months, 3 years, or 30, knowing the challenges that lie ahead is the first step in preparation. Now, what tools are out there you can use?
How Technology is Helping Patients
Technology has revolutionized medication management, making it easier for patients to stick to their prescribed regimens. Digital systems, including mobile apps, wearable devices, and electronic pill dispensers, offer great features to support adherence.
- Reminders and Alerts: Mobile apps send notifications to remind patients to take their medications on time.
- Tracking and Monitoring: Wearable devices and smart pill dispensers monitor medication intake and provide real-time data to patients and healthcare providers.
- Telemedicine: Platforms can facilitate remote consultations, allowing patients to receive guidance and support from their healthcare providers without leaving home.
These technologies improve adherence by making medication management more convenient, engaging, and transparent. They also improve communication between patients and healthcare providers, which enables better-informed healthcare decisions.
KEEP: A Smarter Solution
One innovative company in the field of medication adherence is KEEP. They have developed a smart medicine cabinet designed to simplify medication management. KEEP stands out for its comprehensive approach to ensuring that patients take their medications as prescribed.
Key Features of KEEP:
- Circle of Care: Connects you with family members and caregivers who can support and monitor your medication adherence from afar.This feature connects users with supporters who can monitor and encourage adherence.
- Smart Medication Reminders: Automated alerts help patients remember to take their medications on time.
- Dose Tracking: Patented Dose Recognition Technology™ captures and logs every dosing event, providing valuable adherence insights and less reliance on apps and alarms.
- Customizable Schedules: Patients can tailor their medication schedules, making adjustments as needed.
- Visual Medication Cues: KEEP's design ensures that medications remain visible, serving as constant reminders.
- Secure Storage: KEEP offers a safe environment for medications, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.
- Health Data Insights: Detailed reports enable informed healthcare decisions, enhancing patient outcomes.
KEEP not only reminds patients to take their medications but also fosters a supportive network of family members and caregivers. This approach lower the stress associated with medication management, promotes independence, and ultimately leads to better health outcomes.
Medication adherence is essential for anyone managing an illness or chronic condition. Using solutions like the one offered by KEEP can significantly improve adherence rates, which leads to better health outcomes and reduced healthcare costs. Embrace innovation! With these new tools you can take control of your health and improve your quality of life.