Understanding Treatment Adherence in Chronic Diseases: Challenges, Consequences, and Strategies for Improvement

Adherence to medications is a significant challenge in chronic disease management. Poor adherence can lead to adverse patient outcomes including disease progression, increased morbidity, reduced quality of life, higher hospitalization rates, increased medical costs, and mortality. Medical adherence is a complex issue, influenced by multiple factors, including patient-related, medication-related, and healthcare system-related barriers. This review explores reasons for both intentional non-adherence, such as patients underestimating the consequences of the disease, inadequate education or poor healthcare provider–patient communication, and unintentional non-adherence, including forgetfulness, pathophysiological barriers, socioeconomic barriers (including lifestyle and patient factors), or healthcare resource limitations. Multifaceted, patient-tailored interventions that could improve adherence are discussed, including promoting health education, enhancing healthcare provider–patient engagement, and exploring alternative medical solutions and emerging technological advances. No single approach fits all; this review aims to deepen the understanding of intentional and unintentional non-adherence and to inform targeted interventions to empower patients, foster trust, and improve adherence for those with chronic conditions.