The Medication Adherence Model: a guide for assessing medication taking

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Health Behavior
• Chronic Disease Management

Background:

• Medication adherence is crucial for managing hypertension effectively.
• Nonadherence stems from intentional decisions and unintentional interruptions.
• Existing models lack a comprehensive behavioral component.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the Medication Adherence Model (MAM).
• To guide healthcare providers in assessing medication adherence in hypertensive patients.
• To describe the dynamic process of initiating and maintaining medication adherence.

Main Methods:

• The MAM integrates cognitive and self-regulatory concepts.
• It incorporates purposeful action, patterned behavior, and feedback.
• The model focuses on the hypertensive patient's perspective.

Main Results:

• Purposeful Action: Adherence depends on perceived need, effectiveness, and safety.
• Patterned Behavior: Established through access, routines, and remembering.
• Feedback: Influences adherence through appraisal of health treatment.

Conclusions:

• The MAM provides a framework for understanding medication adherence in hypertension.
• It highlights the interplay between cognitive, behavioral, and feedback mechanisms.
• The model can aid in individualizing interventions to improve medication adherence.