Patient Compliance with Medications: Issues and Opportunities 1st Edition

Patients who use over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medicines often do not take their medicines as intended, sometimes to the detriment of their health and wellbeing. These common problems cause health professionals to worry about how to make sure patients are following their treatment recommendations. This handbook tackles this difficult problem by exploring in detail the extent of non-compliant behaviour, the negative impact of the behaviour on patients and society as a whole, and practical ways to influence people to take their medicines for optimum health . Respected pharmacist and author Jack Fincham and other renowned experts provide insights, surprising data and effective solutions to a challenge faced by almost all healthcare professionals. Patients often use medicines from a variety of sources, making it difficult to monitor their use. Other problems can also affect a patient's health, such as patients borrowing medicines from family or friends, or even not taking them at all because they are unable to pay for them. Leading authorities describe the range of causes of a patient's behaviour and provide practical strategies to hit the root of the problem. Helpful tables, figures and extensive references are also included.