Medication Adherence

The term “adherence” describes the degree to which a patient can follow a prescribed medication and treatment plan agreed by the patient and the medical provider. An essential component of adherence is the patient’s willingness to participate and cooperate in their medical care. Medication adherence is one of the most important aspects of post-transplantation management. Methodology utilized for the measurement of adherence varies widely between studies, thus making the determination of overall prevalence of non-adherence within a population challenging. This chapter explores the methods for adherence measurement. Medication non-adherence is arguably one of the most important modifiable risk factors for poor graft function, rejection, and graft loss, and it is costly to both the individual and the healthcare system. Interventions that have demonstrated success in improving rates of adherence are numerous, and include electronic applications, educational interventions, and interventions that aim to change behavior through patient-driven initiatives.