1. What is Medication Adherence?

Medication adherence refers to the degree to which a patient correctly follows medical advice regarding prescribed treatments. It's typically measured as the percentage of doses taken as prescribed over a specified period.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard adherence formula:

Where:

• \( \text{Days Covered} \) — Number of days medication was taken as prescribed
• \( \text{Total Days} \) — Total number of days in the observation period

Explanation: The formula calculates what percentage of the total treatment period the patient was adherent to their medication regimen.

3. Importance of Adherence Calculation

Details: Measuring adherence helps healthcare providers assess treatment effectiveness, identify potential issues with medication regimens, and improve patient outcomes.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the number of days the medication was taken correctly and the total number of days in the observation period. Both values must be positive numbers, and days covered cannot exceed total days.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is considered good adherence?
A: Typically, adherence ≥80% is considered good, though this may vary by medication and condition.

Q2: How is days covered determined?
A: Days covered can be measured through pill counts, pharmacy refill records, or electronic medication monitors.

Q3: What factors affect adherence?
A: Factors include medication complexity, side effects, cost, health literacy, and patient-provider relationship.

Q4: Are there limitations to this calculation?
A: This simple calculation doesn't account for timing of doses or partial adherence within a day.

Q5: How can adherence be improved?
A: Strategies include simplifying regimens, patient education, reminder systems, and addressing barriers to adherence.