When was the last time you forgot to have your morning cup of coffee, or missed your bedtime skincare routine?
We always remember to do what makes us feel good, yet we often tend to forget that to enjoy good health, we must follow the doctor’s advice! We all need an occasional nudge in the right direction, to get us to attend to our health needs. Innovations like health tracking apps are that much-needed push, to encourage you to adhere to your medicine schedule and pursue your health goals successfully.
Understanding adherence
A major aspect of any treatment plan that has a huge tangible impact on health outcomes, is adherence. Let's understand what it really means. According to WHO, adherence is the degree to which a person’s behavior corresponds with the agreed recommendations from a healthcare provider. It refers to taking medication on time, but also to incorporating other lifestyle changes recommended by your doctor. It has been reported that patients with chronic diseases who adhere to treatment are likely to experience an improved quality of life. Adherence to treatment is associated with fewer Emergency Room visits and hospitalizations. Even so, there are studies with patients suffering from chronic diseases that show that 50% of the study population did not adhere to the correct administration and appropriate medicine dosage. One third of the participants in another study did not adhere to their prescribed medication intake.
For many reasons, today, medical non-adherence is a common global challenge. The failure to follow treatment advice, however, can have an effect on the outcome of the treatment, from lowering its effectiveness to allowing the disease to progress further. This could have far-reaching effects on the quality of life of the patient as well as their families. For example, in patients with diabetes, non-adherence to the prescribed exercise and diet plan could lead to poor mobility and increased pain and anxiety in the patient. The complications arising as a result of this could increase hospital visits, making caregiving more difficult.
Small steps with a big footprint
Educating people about their health condition, and assuring them of the necessity, effectiveness and safety of the treatment protocol, may likely convince them to adhere to the treatment. Also, it often takes one tiny win to show you that your health goals are attainable, that you have the power to take control of your health and live the life you want.
And this is exactly what health technology helps you do. HealthTech apps have been found to improve medicine adherence— by educating you about your health condition, recording your health data, sending you reminders, and checking in with you, they help you be accountable and witness the lasting impact of your treatment plan.
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