Medicines Optimisation Flashcards

Which of the following best describes medication adherence?

Answer: The extent to which a patient's behaviour corresponds with agreed recommendations from a healthcare provider

Adherence describes correspondence between a patient's behaviour and agreed recommendations from a healthcare provider, reflecting a collaborative rather than prescriber-directed relationship.

Research estimates that approximately what proportion of patients with long-term conditions do not take their medicines as intended?

Answer: Around 50%

Evidence consistently shows that approximately 50% of patients with long-term conditions are non-adherent to their medicines, representing a major clinical and economic burden.

A patient states they regularly forget to take their once-daily antihypertensive because of a busy routine. This is an example of:

Answer: Unintentional non-adherence

Unintentional non-adherence occurs when patients want to take their medication but face practical barriers such as forgetfulness, rather than making a deliberate decision not to take it.

Which validated tool is commonly used in clinical practice to measure a patient's self-reported adherence to long-term medication regimens?

Answer: Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS)

The Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS) is a validated self-report questionnaire specifically designed to identify patterns of adherence and barriers to taking medicines.

Shared decision making in the context of medicines optimisation requires that:

Answer: The clinician and patient work together using evidence alongside the patient's preferences and values

Shared decision making is a collaborative process where clinical evidence is combined with the patient's individual values, preferences, and circumstances to reach a jointly agreed decision.

A patient with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes declines to start metformin, citing concerns about gastrointestinal side effects. The most appropriate medicines optimisation response is to:

Answer: Explore the patient's concerns, provide accurate information about side effects, and collaboratively agree a management plan

Medicines optimisation requires exploring and addressing patient concerns through shared decision making, supporting informed choices and finding solutions such as dose titration or alternative formulations.

Which of the following interventions has the strongest evidence base for improving long-term medication adherence?

Answer: Simplifying the medication regimen by reducing dose frequency where possible

Simplifying medication regimens — for example by using once-daily formulations or combination products — consistently improves adherence across a wide range of conditions and patient populations.