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The physicians ranked the top reasons why their patients do not take theirprescription medicines as instructed:
The failure to take medicines as prescribed is a major public health issueestimated to cost the U.S. economy $100 billion a year(1). In lieu ofincreasing concerns around health care costs, physicians play a critical rolein emphasizing that patients should follow their medication regimen in orderto experience healing and avoid a more serious health issue.
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"When patients follow the treatment plan that their physicians advise,they are more likely to experience the full benefits of their medicines andultimately lead healthier lives," said Dr. Karen Smith, Vice President,External Medical Relations, AstraZeneca.
The physicians also ranked which of the following entities has mostinfluence over whether or not their patients take a medicine as prescribed:
AstraZeneca's pharmaceutical sales specialists provide educationalresources to help physicians have more open, frequent discussions with theirpatients about how their medicines are working and whether they haveaffordability concerns. The company is also taking action by:
-- Offering prescription savings programs for patients who may havedifficulty affording their AstraZeneca medicines, and ensuring thatphysicians' offices can share information on these programs with theirpatients.
-- Providing text messaging and interactive software to provide one-on-onepatient support and remind patients to take their medicines as prescribed.
-- Using e-prescribing technology to develop a program that sends anautomatic reminder from a physician to a patient who has not filled his or herprescription in a specific time period.
-- Providing a checklist that patients can bring to the doctor's office tokeep track of their medicines and whether or not they are taking them asdirected.
This month, AstraZeneca is partnering with the National Council on PatientInformation and Education (NCPIE) to help patients and physicians have betterconversations about the importance of following a treatment regimen. NCPIEhosts a "Talk About Prescriptions Month" every year, and has conductedsignificant research to understand why patients do not take medicines asprescribed.
"When a medicine is part of a treatment plan, it is vitally important thatpatients and their healthcare providers communicate effectively about thevalue it can have if used appropriately," noted Ray Bullman, NCPIE ExecutiveVice President. "This two-way communication includes patients sharing anup-to-date list of all medicines they are taking, and physicians making suretheir patients fully understand their medicines' instructions for use,precautions, and what to do if a side effect is suspected. That quality ofdialogue with every prescription will go a long way towards patients achievingbetter health outcomes."
About AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged in theresearch, development, manufacturing and marketing of meaningful prescriptionmedicines and supplier for healthcare services. AstraZeneca is one of theworld's leading pharmaceutical companies with healthcare sales of $29.55billion and is a leader in gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience,respiratory, oncology and infectious disease medicines. In the United States,AstraZeneca is a $13.35 billion dollar healthcare business with 12,200employees committed to improving people's lives. AstraZeneca is listed in theDow Jones Sustainability Index (Global) as well as the FTSE4Good Index.
For more information visit http://www.astrazeneca-us.com.
(1) Dezii CM. Medication noncompliance: what is the problem? Manag Care.2000;9:7-12.-- Affordability of medication 20% -- Patient does not feel they need the medication 20% -- Side effects of medication 17% -- Forgetfulness 16% -- Lack of concern for their condition 5% -- Lack of information on disease or treatment 5% -- Lack of information on the drug they are prescribed 5% -- Lack of family/social support 5% -- Low satisfaction with the drug they are prescribed 3% -- Poor relationship with myself or another physician 2% -- Patient received prior recommendation against the drug 2% (either by another health care professional or patient)
SOURCE AstraZeneca
