Tag: Patient empowerment

According to the World Health Organization, average medication adherence for chronic diseases is only around 50%, highlighting the critical need to address how to motivate patients to take medication. This widespread issue leads to significant morbidity, unnecessary hospitalizations, and increased healthcare costs.

According to one study, PRN medications are prescribed to as many as 62–97% of patients in mental health wards, highlighting their widespread use for managing symptoms like anxiety and agitation. But beyond mental health, why do people do PRN medications, which are prescribed 'as needed' rather than on a fixed schedule?

Studies have shown that patients who receive a Comprehensive Medication Review (CMR) can experience significant benefits, including an average of nearly 17% lower total cost of care. A CMR is a systematic, pharmacist-led service that addresses all of a patient's medications to ensure they are safe, effective, and appropriate.

In 1997, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) relaxed its rules on broadcasting prescription drug advertising, leading to an explosion of promotional content targeting the general public. This created the modern environment for the **direct-to-consumer (DTC) drug**, a pharmaceutical product marketed directly to patients rather than solely to healthcare providers. Today, the U.S. and New Zealand are the only two countries that permit this form of prescription drug marketing, sparking both praise and controversy within the medical community.