Doctors and Patients Have a Failure to Communicate

Half the U.S. population takes at least one prescription drug. Sixty percent of seniors take five or more medications. Yet, about half of patients prescribed a drug are non-adherent.

Half the U.S. population takes at least one prescription drug. Sixty percent of seniors take five or more medications. Yet, about half of patients prescribed a drug are non-adherent.

The Better Health Blog has an interesting info graphic explaining why lack of communication is a contributing factor in prescription drug non-adherence.   Physicians spend only about 49 seconds during an office visit explaining to patients about their new prescription.  Half of patents who leave their doctor’s office do not understand what they were told to do. Moreover, doctors underestimate the information patients need while overestimating the amount of information conveyed.