What makes patients less likely to take their medicines as prescribed?

Patients’ reasons for non-adherence are varied and complex, though researchers have identified some common predictors of poor adherence. These include:

• psychological problems, particularly depression;
• cognitive impairment;
• asymptomatic disease;
• inadequate follow-up or discharge planning;
• side effects of medicine;
• patient lacks belief in benefit of treatment;
• patient lacks insight into the illness;
• poor relationship between patient and provider;
• missed appointments;
• lack of health insurance;
• cost of required copayment or coinsurance;
• complexity of treatment;
• access restrictions.