Medication adherence is broadly defined as taking a medication as prescribed, meaning in the right amount, for the prescribed duration, and in the recommended way. There are highly effective HIV treatment and prevention medications that can alter the course of HIV. However, many people struggle with taking their medications as prescribed.
There are several successful strategies for improving medication adherence including:
- Ensuring access to providers across the care continuum and implementing team-based care
- Educating and empowering patients to understand the treatment regimen and its benefits, reducing barriers to obtaining medication, including cost reduction and efforts to retain or re-engage patients in care, and
- Use of health information technology tools to improve decision making and communication during and after office visits.
Understanding the intersection between medication adherence strategies and social determinants of health is essential.
The following resources can enable providers to better support client adherence to medication regimens.
NOTE: This table contains web links external to PCDC. Resources marked with * were authored by PCDC.
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PCDC Capacity Building Assistance’s (CBA) program materials and activities are supported by Funding Opportunity Announcement PS14-1403, Category C Number 5 NU65PS004403-03-00 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its contents are solely the responsibility of PCDC and do not necessarily represent the official view of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.