What is medication adherence?
Medication adherence is how closely a person's actual medicine-taking matches what they agreed with their prescriber — the right medicine, dose, time and duration.
Medication adherence — Medication adherence is how closely a person's actual medicine-taking matches what they agreed with their prescriber — the right medicine, dose, time and duration.
In more detail
The World Health Organization uses 'adherence' rather than 'compliance' because it describes an agreement between patient and clinician, not an order being followed.
Non-adherence is rarely laziness. The common causes are forgetting, confusing schedules with several medicines, side effects, cost and running out before a refill.
For families caring for an older parent, the biggest practical problems are usually 'did Mum already take it?' and 'when does this run out?'. A shared record solves the first; a days-of-supply count solves the second.
What to do about it
- Keep one list of every medicine, vitamin and supplement, with dose and times.
- Log each dose as Taken, Skipped or Not sure — 'Not sure' is honest and useful.
- Count days of supply: pills on hand ÷ (doses per day × pills per dose).
- Bring the log to appointments and ask the pharmacist about anything you skip often.
DoseBeacon: Pill Reminder
Large, simple reminders for the person taking the medicine, and a shared record of reported doses for approved family members.
Get it on the App StoreQuestions people ask
- Is adherence the same as compliance?
- They overlap, but the WHO prefers 'adherence' because it reflects an agreement the patient is part of.
- What if a dose is missed?
- Follow the label or ask your pharmacist. Don't double up unless told to.