Medication Nonadherence: A Pervasive Overlooked Public Health Crisis

Medications are the primary tools providers have to manage chronic diseases. Despite being an essential component in controlling disease, medication nonadherence is prevalent and an under-recognized contributor to poor outcomes, specifically avoidable morbidity and mortality, increased hospitalizations, and increased healthcare costs. Medication adherence is a complicated behavior influenced by many patient-related, provider-related, and health systems-related barriers. This article will review the various barriers to medication adherence and offer provider-focused strategies to improve adherence among our patient population