Podcast: Adherence to Injectables

Patients with chronic illnesses, especially those with autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, chronic urticaria, Crohn's disease, psoriasis, and diabetes, rely on injectable therapies for disease management. However, it is well established that patients with chronic illnesses often have poor adherence to therapy, with adherence rates reported to be approximately 50%. This leads to issues with gauging treatment efficacy, potentially leading to worsening of their disease, thus more appointments with healthcare professionals (HCPs), and consequently a higher cost burden placed on healthcare systems. Hence, there is an unmet need to educate HCPs on the topic of supporting patients to optimize the use of injectable therapies. In this podcast, Professor Jorge Sánchez of the University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia, brings awareness to some of the key causes of non-adherence to injectable therapy, explains how to identify patients who are at high risk for non-adherence, and discusses how issues with the use of injectables can be managed or improved to increase adherence. The podcast also highlights some patient-focused means of improving treatment adherence, such as providing patient counseling, education, and practice administration sessions to help with patient confidence and empowerment. In conclusion, there is a need for HCPs to identify and improve poor adherence to injectable therapies among patients with chronic illnesses. Podcast video (MP4 157107 KB).