What is patient adherence? A terminology overview

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Health Services Research
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Patient adherence to prescribed medications is vital for effective treatment and positive health outcomes.
• Medication-taking variations are a persistent challenge in healthcare, impacting research and clinical practice.
• Despite extensive research, inconsistent terminology hinders comparative analysis in adherence studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of essential terminology in medication adherence research.
• To address the lack of uniform language in the field of adherence.
• To facilitate better comparison and cumulative understanding of adherence-related studies.

Main Methods:

• This is a commentary, not an empirical study.
• Key terminology in adherence research is reviewed and discussed.
• The authors synthesize existing literature to define core concepts.

Main Results:

• A lack of standardized terminology complicates adherence research.
• Inconsistent definitions impede the comparison of study findings.
• Clarifying terminology is essential for advancing the field.

Conclusions:

• Standardized terminology is critical for advancing medication adherence research.
• Consistent language will improve the comparability and cumulative nature of adherence studies.
• A unified vocabulary will benefit both researchers and clinicians in understanding and addressing adherence challenges.