Cited by 367Medication Adherence and CompliancePharmacy and Medical PracticesPatient Safety and Medication Errors

Medication adherence outcomes of 771 intervention trials: Systematic review and meta-analysis

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Conn, Vicki S., Ruppar, Todd M.·2017·Preventive Medicine

Abstract

Excellent medication adherence contributes to decreases in morbidity, mortality, and health care costs. Although researchers have tested many interventions to increase adherence, results are sometimes conflicting and often unclear. This systematic review applied meta-analytic procedures to integrate primary research that tested medication adherence interventions. Comprehensive searching completed in 2015 located 771 published and unpublished intervention studies with adherence behavior outcomes. Random-effects model analysis calculated standardized mean difference effect sizes. Meta-analytic moderator analyses examined the association between adherence effect sizes and sample, design, and intervention characteristics. Analyses were conducted in 2016. A standardized mean difference effect size of 0.290 comparing treatment and control groups was calculated. Moderator analyses revealed larger effect sizes for habit-based and behavioral-targeted (vs. cognitive-focused) interventions. The most effective interventions were delivered face-to-face, by pharmacists, and administered directly to patients. Effect sizes were smaller in studies with older and homeless participants. Risks of bias were common; effect sizes were significantly lower among studies with masked data collectors and intention-to-treat analyses. The largest effect sizes were reported by studies using medication electronic event monitoring and pill count medication adherence measures. Publication bias was present. This most comprehensive review to date documented that, although interventions can increase adherence, much room remains for improvement. Findings suggest health care providers should focus intervention content on behavioral strategies, especially habit-based interventions, more so than cognitive strategies designed to change knowledge and beliefs.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.ypmed.2017.03.008

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  • Linking medication taking with existing daily routines and using behavioral strategies (eg, prompts to take medication) are the most effective strategies to promote adherence.

    “Findings from a meta-analysis of medication adherence interventions among adults demonstrated that linking medication taking with existing daily routines and using behavioral strategies (eg, prompts to take medication) are the most effective strategies to promote adherence [11].”

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Authors
Conn, V. S., & Ruppar, T. M.
Affiliations
University of Missouri (US)
Corresponding author
Conn, Vicki S.
Venue
Preventive Medicine
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2017-06
Volume
99
Pages
269-276
ISSN
0091-7435 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2597284704
Cited by
367
References
36
Citations by year
2026: 20 · 2025: 39 · 2024: 41 · 2023: 47 · 2022: 57 · 2021: 55 · 2020: 52 · 2019: 37 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 6 · 2013: 1
FWCI
4.87
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Preventive Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institutes of Health (R01NR011990)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Family Practice › Medication Adherence and Compliance
  • Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Pharmacology › Pharmacy and Medical Practices
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Emergency Medical Services › Patient Safety and Medication Errors
Keywords
medication adherence, adherence interventions, behavioral interventions, cognitive intervention, pill count, publication bias, risk of bias, older adults, homeless patients
MeSH terms
Assessment of Medication Adherence, Humans, Research Design, Bias, Drug Monitoring, Medication Adherence

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