NCPA Survey on Adherence

I have been talking a lot about adherence lately (or lack of). A friend sent me the results of a survey of 1,000 adults by NCPA (National Community Pharmacy Association) from October 2006. This is now the 3^rd study I have read this week with different results. Of course, they all used different channels – web, mail, and phone. And, I am sure that the questions asked were slightly different.

• While most consumers believe they are highly compliant when it comes to taking their prescription medications (64% said they follow their physician’s instructions “extremely closely”), the survey found they are not as compliant as they believe.
• Nearly three-fourths (74%) of respondents admitted to non-adherent behaviors in the past.
• Nearly half (49%) said they had forgotten to take a prescribed medication.
• Nearly one-third (31%) had not filled a prescription they were given.
• More than one in 10 (13%) had taken someone else’s prescription medicine.
• Nearly one-quarter (24%) had taken less than the recommended dosage.
• Nearly three out of 10 (29%) had stopped taking a medication before the supply ran out.
• More than one in 10 (11%) substituted an over-the-counter medication instead of filling the prescription they were given.
• Nearly four out of 10 (38%) had forgotten whether they had taken a medication.
• Less than half of respondents (48%) said they had consulted their doctor or pharmacist before making these changes.
• An overwhelming 90% of respondents saw non-adherence as a serious problem.
• More than eight out of 10 (83%) respondents agree that pharmacists can play a role in improving adherence by helping to make sure patients are taking their prescription medications correctly.
• More than two-thirds (68%) believe pharmacists are more knowledgeable than other health care professionals when it comes to information about prescription medications.
• Two-thirds (66%) go to one pharmacy for their prescription medications, which presents an opportunity for pharmacists to advise patients how to take their medications properly.
• Nearly nine out of 10 (86%) say they would be likely to talk to their pharmacist about their medications.