Empowering young patients with long-term conditions to take control of their medicines

Despite an increasing focus on empowering people with long-term conditions to take greater responsibility for their health and disease management, it is recognized that the voices and perspectives of young patients in these initiatives are often missing. However, in recent years a number of researchers and practitioners have found that children and adolescents often take an informed and active role in the management of their condition including the use of medicines, and many advocate that they should be encouraged to do so. This article provides an overview of the evidence on the roles and perspectives of young patients with long-term conditions in their use of medicines and associated decision making. This includes the implications for adherence, their participation in healthcare consultations, sources of information and interventions designed to enhance self-efficacy in the use of medicines.