
Mental Health: Global Challenges Journal
https://www.sciendo.com/journal/MHGCJ
ISSN 2612-2138
Address for correspondence: Evangelos
C. Fradelos, University of Thessaly.
Gaiopolis Campus, Larissa - Trikala Ring Road, 41500, Larissa, GREECE
Email: efradelos@uth.gr
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial 4.0 International
License (CC BY-NC 4.0).
©Copyright: Fradelos et al., 2024
Publisher: Sciendo (De Gruyter)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56508/mhgcj.v
i1.
Submitted for publication: 07
May 2024
Revised: 17 September 2024
Accepted for publication: 24
November 2024
Introduction
Treatment adherence, as well as the causes
and consequences of non-adherence, has
garnered significant research interest in the
scientific community over the years. Many
researchers focus on the concepts of adherence,
compliance, persistence, and concordance as
terms commonly used to describe a person’s
commitment to a therapeutic regimen (Sabaté,
2003; Sharif-Nia et al., 2024; Alikari et al., 2017).
Treatment adherence refers to the extent to which
an individual’s behavior—such as taking
medication, adopting a diet, and changing their
lifestyle—aligns with the recommendations of a
health professional and results from an agreement
with the patient (Sabaté, 2003).
Adherence emphasizes the collaborative
patient-physician relationship and the patient’s
participation in making decisions about their
treatment. In contrast, compliance describes the
patient’s passive role, where they simply “follow the
doctor’s instructions,” imparting a paternalistic
character to the therapeutic relationship
(Chakrabarti, 2014). The concept of concordance
focuses on a more egalitarian relationship, where
the patient and doctor work together to make
mutually acceptable treatment decisions (Martin
et al., 2005). The practice of adhering to a
medication regimen for the entire recommended
period is known as medication persistence,
defined as "the duration of time from initiation to
discontinuation of therapy" (Cramer et al., 2008).
These constructs, however, are considered distinct
rather than interchangeable (Cramer et al., 2008).
Adherence and concordance are seen as
more modern terms, recognizing the importance
of active patient involvement enhanced through
effective communication with healthcare
professionals. Conversely, compliance is now
viewed as an outdated concept.
According to Burnier (2024), non-adherence in
therapeutic regimens poses significant challenges
in managing chronic diseases, resulting in poor
disease control and increased risks of
complications. Factors such as complex
medication plans, patients' limited understanding
of their disease, and socioeconomic status
influence adherence levels (Burnier, 2024;
Romash, 2023). Nfor and Warri (2024), in a
qualitative study, identified factors contributing to
non-adherence among hypertensive patients.
These included limited knowledge about the
disease and its treatment, negative attitudes
toward disease management, time constraints,
lack of social support, and poor relationships with
healthcare professionals (Nfor & Warri, 2024).
A systematic review by Gast and Mathes (2019)
explored factors influencing adherence to
medication for chronic conditions. The findings
revealed that higher educational levels and
employment positively correlate with adherence,
while ethnic minority status, unemployment, and
high drug costs negatively impact adherence,
highlighting social inequalities in healthcare.
Additional factors, such as age, disease duration,
and treatment complexity, showed inconsistent
results, while drug costs consistently had a
negative effect. These results underscore the need
for targeted interventions in vulnerable populations
to improve adherence (Gast & Mathes, 2019).
While various methods exist to assess treatment
adherence, self-reported measures are
commonly used in healthcare settings. One such
tool is the Simplified Medication Adherence
Questionnaire (SMAQ), known for its simplicity and
validity in clinical settings. The SMAQ quickly
evaluates adherence, making it particularly
suitable for time-constrained environments. It has
demonstrated reliability and validity, with high
sensitivity and specificity in detecting non-
adherence based on patient self-reporting
(Knobel et al., 2002).
SMAQ evaluates various aspects of
adherence, including missed doses (intentional or
unintentional), medication timing, dosage
changes, and subjective compliance
assessments. Its multidimensional approach
enables its application across diverse populations
and conditions, facilitating comparisons and
customization to individual needs. Moreover, it
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