The silent epidemic of non-adherence - insights from the 2024 a:care congress.

Journal: BMC proceedings
Published Date: May 22, 2025

Abstract

Medication non-adherence is a global challenge with profound implications for patient health outcomes, healthcare systems, and society at large. This widespread issue leads to hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths and hospitalizations annually, and billions of dollars in avoidable healthcare costs. No country is immune to this challenge. The a:care Congress 2024, titled "Adherence is a Behavior: Do We Have the Right One?", addressed this critical issue to understand its societal and economic burden and explore the complex human behaviors driving it. The Congress examined the global impact of non-adherence and local realities, providing a health economic perspective on its consequences. Behavioral factors influencing adherence were analyzed, emphasizing the importance of understanding individual patient motivations. The role of technology and artificial intelligence in the physician-patient relationship was discussed, highlighting opportunities and challenges of integrating these tools. The patient's voice was brought to the forefront, underscoring the importance of communication and trust in the care relationship. A final multidisciplinary session explored the role of each stakeholder in improving adherence. This article provides an overview of the different sessions from the congress, focusing on the challenges associated with medication non-adherence and potential solutions. It emphasizes the need for a multidimensional approach involving all healthcare system stakeholders and the importance of prioritizing the development of new strategies to improve overall health outcomes and healthcare system efficiency.

Authors

  • Sheri D Pruitt
    Former Director of Behavioral Science Integration, Independent Behavioral Science Consultant, Kaiser Permanente, Ada, OK, USA. sheri@drsheripruitt.com.
  • Rabia Khan
    School of Population Health, University of New South Wales, New South Wales, Australia.
  • Nathorn Chaiyakunapruk
    Department of Pharmacotherapy, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Utah, USA.
  • Arintaya Phrommintikul
    Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
  • Miguel Angel Díaz Aguilera
    National Center for Preventive Programs and Disease Control, Ministry of Health, Mexico City, Mexico.
  • Ngiap Chuan Tan
    Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
  • Shoaib Afzal
    Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Copenhagen University Hospital Herlev and Gentofte, Gentofte, Denmark.
  • Andressa da Silva van der Laan
    Global Innovation and Development, Abbott Product Operations AG, Allshwil, Switzerland.
  • John Weinman
    Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, London, UK.

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