title: Review of adherence to medications for the treatment of osteoporosis.
abstract: One of the major challenges of successful osteoporosis management is poor patient adherence to current therapies. Individuals who are nonadherent have significant consequences of reduced bone mineral density response, reduced bone marker suppression, and increased risk for fracture compared with individuals who are adherent. Although reducing the dosing interval from daily to weekly oral bisphosphonates has improved adherence, adherence with weekly bisphosphonates remains suboptimal. Barriers to adherence include patient health beliefs, inadequate patient education and age. Potential solutions include increased health care provider-patient interaction, and longer times between doses of medications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Sociology, & Center for Aging, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3003, Durham, NC 27710, USA. dtg@geri.duke.edu
authors.forename: Deborah T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Gold
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Silverman
mesh_terms: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents