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Published on: August 30, 2018
Optimizing medicines management: From compliance to concordance.
Annie Cushing1, Richard Metcalfe
1Clinical and Communication Skills Unit, Barts and the London, Queen Mary’s School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of London, London, England, UK. a.m.cushing@qmul.ac.uk
Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management
|June 3, 2008
Summary
Unused medication leads to significant financial waste and lost medical time. This article explores patient concordance, a partnership approach to medication management, improving satisfaction and adherence.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Patient-Centered Care
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
Background:
- Unconsumed prescribed medication results in substantial financial losses and inefficient use of healthcare resources.
- Existing concepts of medication compliance and adherence do not fully address patient engagement in treatment decisions.
- A growing number of patients desire a collaborative approach to managing their health conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To differentiate the concept of patient concordance from compliance and adherence.
- To explore the benefits of a partnership approach in doctor-patient communication regarding medication.
- To examine current practices and identify strategies for promoting effective medication prescription and utilization.
Main Methods:
- Literature review on medication adherence, compliance, and concordance.
- Conceptual analysis of shared decision-making in healthcare.
- Exploration of doctor and patient behaviors in consultations.
- Review of consultation models and healthcare system interventions.
Main Results:
- Patient concordance, a partnership model, offers a more satisfying and effective approach to medication management.
- Shared decision-making is not universally suitable, but a partnership is increasingly desired.
- Rebalancing medication discussions can lead to more focused prescribing and improved patient adherence.
Conclusions:
- Shifting towards patient concordance can enhance both patient and physician satisfaction.
- Healthcare systems and practitioners should adopt strategies that foster partnership in prescribing.
- Promoting concordance is key to optimizing medication utilization and reducing waste.
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