Osteoporosis medication adherence – are the myths true or do patients take their Calcichew®?

Excerpt

Osteoporosis is defined as a progressive systemic disease characterised by low bone mass and architectural deterioration of bone tissue, with consequent increased bone fragility. The disease is predominately a disease of postmenopausal women and those prescribed long-term oral corticosteroids, but may occur in all populations and ages. A large number of patients are treated for osteoporosis in Ireland and adherence is a major issue in it's management. Poor adherence to osteoporosis treatment has been well documented and is a widely recognised problem, resulting in a huge burden on patients and the healthcare system. In particular, poor adherence results in an increased number of fractures and consequent pain and disability. The authors noted that patients frequently stated they did not wish to have their osteoporosis medication dispensed. In practice, a number of factors affect adherence to medication and there are numerous ways it can be improved. The objectives of this study were to ascertain the extent of failures to refill prescriptions for osteoporosis medications in the community setting, and to make recommendations. …