title: Medication adherence part one: understanding and assessing the problem.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This is the first of a three-part series on medication adherence in which the authors describe the continuum of adherence to nonadherence of medication usage.
  
  
  METHODS
  Research articles through MEDLINE and PubMed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Understanding the magnitude and scope of the problem of medication nonadherence is the first step in reaching better adherence rates. The second step is to evaluate the risk factors for each patient for medication adherence/nonadherence. The third step is to assess for adherence. The process will continue with a consistent systematic process to evaluate continual adherence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The implications for nurse practitioners include using time with patients to assist them in adherence, building a trusting relationship with patients, and developing protocols for assessing and preventing nonadherence.
authors.affiliation: (Professor of Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner), University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, Louisiana (Professor of Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner), Faith House Inc, Lafayette, Louisiana (Assistant Professor), University of Kentucky College of Nursing, Lexington, Kentucky (Assistant Professor), Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Mary B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Neiheisel
authors.forename: Kathy J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Wheeler
authors.forename: Mary Ellen
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology; D024802:Nurse's Role
keywords: Medication adherence; adherence; medication nonadherence; nonadherence