title: Addressing drug adherence using an operations management model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE To provide a model that enables health systems and pharmacy benefit managers to provide medications reliably and test for reliability and validity in the analysis of adherence to drug therapy of chronic disease. SUMMARY The quantifiable model described here can be used in conjunction with behavioral designs of drug adherence assessments. The model identifies variables that can be reproduced and expanded across the management of chronic diseases with drug therapy. By creating a reorder point system for reordering medications, the model uses a methodology commonly seen in operations research. The design includes a safety stock of medication and current supply of medication, which increases the likelihood that patients will have a continuous supply of medications, thereby positively affecting adherence by removing barriers. CONCLUSION This method identifies an adherence model that quantifies variables related to recommendations from health care providers; it can assist health care and service delivery systems in making decisions that influence adherence based on the expected order cycle days and the expected daily quantity of medication administered. This model addresses the possession of medication as a barrier to adherence.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nunlee
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bones
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D004356:Drug Storage / Q000592:standards; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D055118:Medication Adherence; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000592:standards*
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations