Medication Non-adherence: Exploring the Tension Between Patient Safety and Patient Autonomy
Posted on July 12, 2018 by Bobby Gheorghiu and Seema Nayani
It may be a surprising stat to some, but roughly 30 per cent of prescriptions generated in Canada by prescribers for their patients go unfilled.1 Reasons range from prescriptions that are lost or damaged, to the cost of the medications, to forgetfulness, to not wanting to take the medication, and many others. Medication non-adherence could result in a worsening of a patient’s condition and, potentially, more frequent hospitalization and/or emergency department visits. According to a World Health Organization report, medication non-adherence accounts for five per cent of Canadian hospital admissions and five per cent of physician visits, resulting in an additional $4 billion in health care costs annually.1
Read More