The role of pharmacists in medication adherence of patients: A review

Abstract

Background:
Medication adherence is the cornerstone of effective therapeutic treatment, and it affects disease progression in both chronic and acute health conditions. Non-adherence to medication is common among patients, especially those with chronic conditions, as the therapeutic regimen lasts for a long duration. Patient education and counseling can be effective in resolving issues associated with medication non-adherence. Pharmacists of both clinical and community settings can help the patients in achieving better adherence level via several interventions.
Aim:
To overview the role of pharmacists in medication adherence among patients with different diseases and conditions.
Methods:
Online exploration process was adopted to obtain related articles and using several related terms. All types of articles written in English language were included and there was no limitation to the publication date of the included article.
Results:
The included articles were discussed under major three titles, one focused on the role of clinical pharmacists, the second focused on community pharmacists and the third title overviewed the perception and knowledge of pharmacists regarding their role.
Conclusion:
Both clinical and community pharmacists have significant role in improving medication adherence among different chronic conditions. Pharmacists cloud help patients to adhere to their medications by the adoption of several interventions, and strategies. However, there is lack in understanding the perspective, knowledge and attitude of pharmacists regarding their role in medication adherence of patients.