A Narrative Review of Medication Adherence Educational Interventions for Health Professions Students

Objective. To review published educational interventions focusing on medication non-adherence. Methods. A literature search was performed of educational articles on the topic of medication adherence. Data on interventions and learning assessments were abstracted for relevant studies meeting search criteria. Results. Twenty studies met inclusion criteria. Sixteen included pill-taking experiences with regimens of candies or placebos and varied in their inclusion of novel elements to highlight issues such as stigma, regimen complexity, and adherence measurement. Three studies involved interacting with the public. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used to assess a variety of learning outcomes. Conclusion. Pill-taking experiences can help future providers appreciate the complex logistics of medication-taking, but are less capable of addressing the psychosocial aspects of adherence. A promising area for learning is to interact with actual medication users to understand their experiences and perspectives.