In medication therapy, what does "non-adherence" signify?

Non-adherence signifies the failure to follow prescribed medication regimens, which can include not taking medications as directed, missing doses, or stopping treatment prematurely. Understanding non-adherence is critical because it can significantly impact patient outcomes, leading to potential disease progression, increased healthcare costs, and reduced effectiveness of treatments.

When patients do not adhere to their medication regimens, it can result from various factors such as forgetfulness, misunderstanding the instructions, side effects, or lack of trust in the treatment. Identifying and addressing these barriers is essential for healthcare providers to improve adherence rates among patients.

The other choices reference different behaviors concerning medication use that do not fit the definition of non-adherence, such as accurately following treatment plans or altering dosages.