Table 5 The ABC Delphi Panel medication adherence policy solutions
From: Developing consensus-based policy solutions for medicines adherence for Europe: a delphi study
Policy solutions | Priority rating* | Mean importance♦ | Mean operational feasibility | Mean political feasibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Improve patient education and information when a medication is newly prescribed | 8.92 | 4.47 | 4.39 | 4.50 |
2. Improve patient education and information focused on the patients’ treatment | 8.42 | 4.13 | 4.16 | 4.42 |
3. Improve patient education and information regarding the benefits of adherence to their particular medication(s) | 8.40 | 4.11 | 4.24 | 4.34 |
4. Improve education and training for healthcare professionals about ways of addressing medication non-adherence to drive improvements in clinical practice | 8.32 | 4.42 | 3.86 | 3.93 |
5. The patients' preferences for treatment should be discussed to support medication adherence | 8.27 | 4.32 | 3.89 | 4.00 |
6. Improve education and training for healthcare professionals about patient-centred care | 8.25 | 4.32 | 3.89 | 3.96 |
7. Improve patient education and information about potential side effects or adverse effects and how to manage them | 8.21 | 4.08 | 4.13 | 4.13 |
8. Healthcare professionals should support patients with concerns about or experience of side effects of medication | 8.18 | 4.18 | 3.96 | 4.04 |
9. Improve education and training for healthcare professionals about identifying and assessing medication non-adherence to drive improvements in clinical practice | 8.06 | 4.18 | 3.76 | 4.00 |
10. Ensure patient involvement and a partnership approach, for example in treatment plans and decisions, to support medication adherence for those patients who wish to be involved | 8.05 | 4.32 | 3.66 | 3.79 |
11. Simplify the patients’ medication regimen (e.g., less frequent, modified formulation and/or dosage, tailored to individual need) | 8.05 | 4.16 | 3.82 | 3.96 |
12. Improve education and training for healthcare professionals regarding medication adherence in general | 8.03 | 4.05 | 3.95 | 4.00 |
13. Improve patient education and information to assist the patient to weigh up the benefit and harm of medication | 7.99 | 4.18 | 3.75 | 3.86 |
14. Increase public awareness of the issue of medication adherence | 7.94 | 4.13 | 3.82 | 3.79 |
15. The patients' health- and medication-related beliefs should be discussed between the clinician and the patient to support medication adherence | 7.90 | 4.29 | 3.50 | 3.71 |
16. Healthcare professionals should use reviews of medication to discuss medication adherence with patients | 7.84 | 4.03 | 3.82 | 3.79 |
17. Healthcare professionals should provide the patient with ongoing feedback and support with medication-taking | 7.82 | 4.07 | 3.79 | 3.71 |
18. Stop medication(s) that the patient no longer needs or wants | 7.81 | 4.00 | 3.75 | 3.86 |
19. Ensure a consistent team approach to treatment, in which all members of the healthcare team work together to support medication adherence | 7.61 | 4.21 | 3.18 | 3.61 |
20. Healthcare professionals should adopt a non-judgmental approach to the issue of medication adherence | 7.61 | 4.11 | 3.43 | 3.57 |
21. Build patients’ trust in the healthcare professional to support medication adherence | 7.60 | 4.11 | 3.43 | 3.54 |
22. Information provision should be tailored to the individual preferences or needs of the patient | 7.56 | 4.03 | 3.34 | 3.71 |
23. Governments should implement evidence-based policies about medication adherence | 7.53 | 4.05 | 3.42 | 3.53 |
24. Governments should invest resources/money in medication adherence, particularly regarding education, research, and access to medicines | 7.39 | 4.11 | 3.34 | 3.21 |
25. Healthcare professionals should make sufficient time for the patient, for instance through more frequent contact | 6.79 | 4.00 | 2.76 | 2.82 |