Review of the Predictors of Medication Non-Adherence and Adherence

Purpose: This is the second of a three part series on Medication Adherence in which the authors describe the continuum of adherence to non-adherence of medication usage.

Methods: Research articles through Medline and PubMed.

Results: The research review showed medication adherence and non-adherence can be categorized according to the following:  patient demographic characteristics, patient psychological and behavioral characteristics, social factors, disease related factors, financial and other health system factors, patient-provider relationships, and treatment related factors.

Conclusion: The implications for advanced practice nurses and other prescribers is that it is important to evaluate the patient according to unique predictor qualities in order to tailor responses and activities, thereby assuring the highest medication adherence possible.