title: Medication adherence: pharmacist perspective.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide pharmacists with a current, comprehensive review of medication adherence challenges and solutions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A computerized search of the PubMed and Medline databases (through July 2008) identified English language review articles on medication adherence using the MeSH terms patient compliance or adherence and medication, drug regimen, or treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  By the authors.
  
  
  METHODS
  The results were filtered to include those published in pharmacy journals, and 117 publications were selected based on the content of their abstracts. The final version of this review article used 55 of the 117 publications. An additional 15 publications that provided examples of specific adherence issues were included. A vignette from the authors' experience was used as a case study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This article introduces the challenge of patient medication adherence, discusses the various methods by which to monitor medication adherence, describes various treatment- and condition-related barriers to adherence, and discusses the effectiveness of numerous adherence intervention strategies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nonadherence to a medication regimen may have multiple underlying causes, some of which may be easier to address than others. Open discussion between the pharmacist and patient regarding barriers to adequate medication adherence, followed by a multifaceted, personalized intervention to address these barriers, plays a key role in encouraging patients to adhere to the recommendations of the health care team.
authors.affiliation: OHSU Pharmacy Services, Oregon Health and Science University, SW Sam Jackson Park Rd., Portland, OR 97239, USA. bubaloj@ohsu.edu
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bubalo
authors.forename: Roger K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Susie S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Jiing
authors.forename: Nathan B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Katherine A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Colleen J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Clemens-Shipman
authors.forename: Amanda L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Sweet
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D004333:Drug Administration Routes; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D057220:Health Literacy; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons; D006801:Humans; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008603:Mental Health; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D019338:Polypharmacy; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D055553:Prescription Drugs