Prescribed medication is the most common form of medical
treatment in the UK and affects the majority of
the population. However, people do
not always get the full benefit of their
medication. Two of the key issues contributing
to this are:
. There is an increasing level of prescribing year on year...
. ...despite
the fact that people aren't always taking these medicines.
Imagine this!
What we need is:
. more
appropriate prescribing, that takes patients
beliefs and wishes into account.
. a
different approach to compliance: patients
don't comply if they don't see how a medicine will
help.
Research shows that patients are
more likely to benefit from their prescribed medication
when they:
. understand and accept the diagnosis.
. agree with the treatment proposed.
. have had their concerns about the medicines specifically
and seriously addressed.
The processes necessary to achieve
this are described as concordance -
a new approach to the prescribing and taking of
medicines based on partnership.
Click
here to read more about the Medicines Partnership
programme. Click
here to read more about concordance.
