Medication adherence across the lifespan: Theory, methods, interventions and six grand challenges

Citation

Molloy G & O'Carroll R (2017) Medication adherence across the lifespan: Theory, methods, interventions and six grand challenges. Psychology and Health, 32 (10), pp. 1169-1175. https://doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2017.1316850

Abstract
First paragraph: Taking medication as agreed with a health care provider ‘i.e. adherence’, is a critically important health behaviour throughout life for both the prevention and treatment of illness and the maintenance of health (Osterberg & Blaschke, 2005). From childhood use of antibiotics (Baguley, Lim, Bevan, Pallet, & Faust, 2012), to early adulthood use 15 of oral contraceptives (Molloy, Graham, & McGuinness, 2012) to older adulthood use of cardiovascular risk reduction medications (O’Carroll, Chambers, Dennis, Sudlow, & Johnston, 2014), evidence-based treatments such as these can have profound impact on health across the lifespan. Variability in the initiation, execution and persistence of med- ication taking behaviour plays a significant role in explaining the difference between 20 the trial-based efficacy and ‘real-world’ effectiveness for many medications (Blaschke, Osterberg, Vrijens, & Urquhart, 2012). Medication adherence has therefore been the focus of systematic investigation for several decades by both behavioural and clinical scientists (DiMatteo, 2004).

Keywords
adherence; compliance; health behaviour

Notes
Output Type: Editorial

Journal
Psychology and Health: Volume 32, Issue 10

People

Professor Ronan O'Carroll

Professor, Psychology