A new taxonomy for describing and defining adherence to medications.

Pharmaceutical Preparations; Databases, Factual; Disease Management; Drug Monitoring/classification; Humans; Patient Care Management/classification; Pharmaceutical Preparations/classification; Medication Adherence; Concordance; Patient compliance; Persistence; Taxonomy; Terminology; Pharmacology; Pharmacology (medical)

Abstract :

[en] Interest in patient adherence has increased in recent years, with a growing literature that shows the pervasiveness of poor adherence to appropriately prescribed medications. However, four decades of adherence research has not resulted in uniformity in the terminology used to describe deviations from prescribed therapies. The aim of this review was to propose a new taxonomy, in which adherence to medications is conceptualized, based on behavioural and pharmacological science, and which will support quantifiable parameters. A systematic literature review was performed using MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, the Cochrane Library and PsycINFO from database inception to 1 April 2009. The objective was to identify the different conceptual approaches to adherence research. Definitions were analyzed according to time and methodological perspectives. A taxonomic approach was subsequently derived, evaluated and discussed with international experts. More than 10 different terms describing medication-taking behaviour were identified through the literature review, often with differing meanings. The conceptual foundation for a new, transparent taxonomy relies on three elements, which make a clear distinction between processes that describe actions through established routines ('Adherence to medications', 'Management of adherence') and the discipline that studies those processes ('Adherence-related sciences'). 'Adherence to medications' is the process by which patients take their medication as prescribed, further divided into three quantifiable phases: 'Initiation', 'Implementation' and 'Discontinuation'. In response to the proliferation of ambiguous or unquantifiable terms in the literature on medication adherence, this research has resulted in a new conceptual foundation for a transparent taxonomy. The terms and definitions are focused on promoting consistency and quantification in terminology and methods to aid in the conduct, analysis and interpretation of scientific studies of medication adherence.

Disciplines :

Human health sciences: Multidisciplinary, general & others

Author, co-author :

Vrijens, Bernard ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences de la santé publique ; AARDEX Group Ltd, Sion, Switzerland. bernard.vrijens@aardexgroup.com

De Geest, Sabina

Hughes, Dyfrig A

Przemyslaw, Kardas

Demonceau, Jenny

Ruppar, Todd

Dobbels, Fabienne

Fargher, Emily

Morrison, Valerie

Lewek, Pawel

More authors (6 more)

Language :

English

Title :

A new taxonomy for describing and defining adherence to medications.

Publication date :

May 2012

Journal title :

British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology

ISSN :

0306-5251

eISSN :

1365-2125

Publisher :

Wiley, England

Volume :

Issue :

Pages :

691 - 705

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Additional URL :

https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1365-2125.2012.04167.x

Available on ORBi :

since 18 July 2023

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