Improving Medication Adherence Among Patients with Hypertension

Medication adherence is critical to successful hypertension control for many patients. However, only 51% of Americans treated for hypertension follow their health care professional’s advice when it comes to their long-term medication therapy.¹

Adherence matters. High adherence to antihypertensive medication is associated with higher odds of blood pressure control, but non-adherence to cardioprotective medications increases a patient’s risk of death from 50% to 80%.¹

As a health care professional, you can empower patients to take their medications as prescribed. Effective two-way communication is critical; in fact, it doubles the odds of your patients taking their medications properly. Try to understand your patients’ barriers and address them honestly to build trust.

Use the SIMPLE Method

Use the SIMPLE method² to help improve medication adherence among your patients:

Simplify the regimen.

• Encourage patients to use adherence tools, like day-of-the-week pill boxes or mobile apps.
• Work to match the action of taking medication with a patient’s daily routine (e.g., mealtime or bedtime, with other medications they already take properly).

Impart knowledge.

• Write down prescription instructions clearly, and reinforce them verbally.
• Provide websites for additional reading and information—find suggestions at the Million Hearts^®

Modify patients’ beliefs and behavior.

• Provide positive reinforcement when patients take their medication successfully, and offer incentives if possible.
• Talk to patients to understand and address their concerns or fears.

 Provide communication and trust.

• Allow patients to speak freely. Time is of the essence, but research shows that most patients will talk no longer than 2 minutes when given the opportunity.
• Use plain language when speaking with patients. Say, “Did you take all of your pills?” instead of using the word “adherence.”
• Ask for patients’ input when discussing recommendations and making decisions.
• Remind patients to contact your office with any questions.

Leave the bias.

• Understand the predictors of non-adherence and address them as needed with patients.
• Ask patients specific questions about attitudes, beliefs, and cultural norms related to taking medications.

Evaluate adherence.

• Ask patients simply and directly whether they are sticking to their drug regimen.
• Use a medication adherence scale:
  • Morisky-8 (MMAS-8)
  • Morisky-4 (MMAS-4 or Medication Adherence Questionnaire)
  • Medication Possession Ratio (MPR)
  • Proportion of Days Covered (PDC)

Additional Resources

• Million Hearts^® Medication Adherence Featured Tools
• American College of Preventive Medicine

Reference

1. Ho PM, Bryson CL, Rumsfeld JS. Medication adherence: its importance in cardiovascular outcomes. Circulation. 2009;119:3028-3035.