Medication non-adherence is estimated to affect 30–50% of patients with long-term conditions, contributing significantly to poor outcomes and avoidable hospitalisations. Identifying patients at higher risk of non-adherence allows pharmacists and prescribers to target support where it is most needed. This tool combines key adherence risk factors to produce a simple risk score for screening purposes.
Use this tool during medication reviews, new medicine service consultations, or when a patient presents with poor disease control despite appropriate prescribing. It helps identify modifiable factors that may be contributing to non-adherence.
This tool identifies risk factors associated with non-adherence. It cannot predict the behaviour of any individual patient. Intentional non-adherence (where a patient chooses not to take medication) requires a separate concordance assessment through direct patient conversation.
Medication adherence refers to whether a patient takes their medication as prescribed, including the right dose, at the right time, and for the correct duration.
Poor adherence is one of the most common reasons for treatment failure. It contributes to disease progression, hospitalisations, and increased healthcare costs.
The score combines factors known to affect adherence: dosing complexity, side effect burden, and patient-specific factors such as cognitive impairment, polypharmacy, and social isolation.
No. This tool identifies risk factors associated with non-adherence. It cannot predict the behaviour of any individual patient and should be used alongside clinical assessment.
A high score suggests the patient may benefit from targeted adherence support, such as dose simplification, medication aids, education, or more frequent follow-up.
This tool draws on factors identified in adherence research and clinical guidance. It is not a validated clinical instrument and should be used as a screening aid only.