Steps to improve antihypertensive medication adherence
Intended for healthcare professionals
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Steps to improve antihypertensive medication adherence

Yuhe Hu Studying for a Doctorate of Nursing Practice, Columbia University School of Nursing, New York, United States

Optimal blood pressure control in patients with hypertension is the key to reduced risk of developing complications, and medication adherence is an important yet often ignored factor influencing blood pressure control. This article aims to explore influencing factors and successful interventions that improve adherence to antihypertensive medication. Barriers to medication adherence are identified and a brief review of different interventions follows. Recommendations are made for promoting medication adherence in primary care practice. Barriers to antihypertensive medication adherence are manifold, and interventions to improve adherence should be individualised and tailored to address the root causes of identified barriers. In older people, cognitive impairment and depression may be prevalent yet overlooked, and primary care providers should assess medication adherence at every visit.

Primary Health Care. 26, 8, 28-33. doi: 10.7748/phc.2016.e1113

Correspondence

yuhe.hu@gmail.com

Peer review

This article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software

Conflict of interest

None declared

Received: 28 December 2015

Accepted: 15 February 2016

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