1. What is Medication Adherence?

Medication adherence refers to the degree to which a patient correctly follows medical advice regarding prescribed medications. In India, adherence rates are particularly important due to high disease burdens and limited healthcare resources.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the simple adherence formula:

Where:

• Pills Taken — Actual number of pills consumed by the patient
• Pills Prescribed — Number of pills the patient was supposed to take

Explanation: The formula calculates what percentage of prescribed medication was actually taken by the patient.

3. Importance of Adherence Calculation

Details: Measuring adherence helps healthcare providers understand treatment effectiveness, identify non-compliant patients, and improve health outcomes, especially in chronic disease management common in India.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the number of pills actually taken and the number prescribed during the same period. Both values must be positive numbers, with "taken" ≤ "prescribed".

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is considered good adherence in India?
A: Generally ≥80% is considered adequate adherence, though optimal is ≥95%. Indian studies often show adherence rates between 50-80%.

Q2: How to improve adherence rates?
A: Strategies include patient education, simplified regimens, reminder systems, and addressing cultural beliefs about medications.

Q3: What are common reasons for poor adherence in India?
A: Cost of medications, forgetfulness, lack of symptoms, cultural beliefs, side effects, and complex regimens.

Q4: Are there limitations to pill counting?
A: Yes, it doesn't capture timing of doses or actual ingestion. Patients may discard pills to appear adherent.

Q5: What alternatives exist to measure adherence?
A: Pharmacy refill rates, self-reports, electronic monitoring devices, and biochemical markers.