A mixed-methods study of the implementation of medication adherence policy solutions: how do European countries compare?

Figures & data

Table 1 The European consensus-based policy solutions for medicines adherence

Patient-focused solutions

1 Provide patients with support, education, and information when a medication is newly prescribed

2 Provide patients with support, education, and information focused on the patients’ treatment

3 Provide patients with support, education, and information about the benefits of adherence to their particular medication(s)

4 Provide patients with support, education, and information about potential side effects or adverse effects and how to manage them

5 Provide patients with support, education, and information to assist them to weigh up the benefit and harm of medication

6 Provide patients with support, education, and information tailored to their individual preferences or needs

Health care professional-focused solutions

7 Health care professionals should receive education and training about patient-centered care

8 Health care professionals should receive education and training about identifying and assessing medication nonadherence

9 Health care professionals should receive education and training about ways of addressing medication nonadherence when it is identified

10 Health care professionals should adopt a nonjudgmental approach to the issue of medication adherence

11 Health care professionals should identify medication nonadherence

12 Health care professionals should provide patients with ongoing feedback and support with medication-taking

13 Health care professionals should support patients with concerns about, or experience of, side effects of medication

14 Health care professionals should make sufficient time for the patient, for instance, through more frequent, timely contact

Health care professional–patient interaction-focused solutions

15 Together, health care professionals and patients should discuss the patients’ preferences for treatment

16 Together, health care professionals and patients should ensure a partnership approach in decision-making and treatment

17 Together, health care professionals and patients should discuss the patients’ health- and medication-related beliefs

18 Together, health care professionals and patients should build the patients’ trust in the health care professional

Medication-focused solutions

19 Regarding medicines, simplify the patients’ medication regimen as appropriate (eg, less frequent, modified formulation and/or dosage, tailored to individual need)

20 Regarding medicines, stop medication(s) that the patient no longer needs or wants

Health care systems solutions

21 Health care providers should promote a team approach, sharing information to deliver consistent adherence support

22 Health care providers should prioritize medication adherence support in service, organization, and systems design

Government/payer-focused solutions

23 Governments/health care payers should increase public awareness of medication adherence for all citizens

24 Governments/health care payers should develop and implement evidence-based interventions for medication adherence

25 Governments/health care payers should provide training and guidance for all health care providers so they can deliver effective adherence interventions

26 Governments/health care payers should invest in research to identify effective interventions demonstrating value for money

Note: © 2012 Clyne et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. Adapted from Clyne W, White S, McLachlan S. Developing Consensus-Based Policy Solutions for Medicines Adherence for Europe: a Delphi Study. London: BMC Health Services Research; 2012.⁹ Creative Commons license and disclaimer available from: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode

Figure 1 Total policy implementation score for each country.

Note: Minimum possible score =26; maximum possible score =130.

Figure 2 Mean implementation and perceived appropriateness of implementation across country for each category of policy solution.

Figure 3 Mean implementation and perceived appropriateness of implementation of policy solutions for medication adherence, by category and country.

Figure 4 Comparison of an exemplar nation with more activity for adherence with exemplar of nation with less activity.

ClyneWWhiteSMcLachlanSDeveloping Consensus-Based Policy Solutions for Medicines Adherence for Europe: a Delphi StudyLondonBMC Health Services Research2012

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