Surely treatment regimens allow for low adherence. Could improved adherence create problems?
The objective studies of adherence have all been exactly that, research studies. These show regularly that adherence is only about 50%. Therefore, participating in a clinical trial does not of itself result in good adherence, as was thought. Consistent with this knowledge, drug studies generally use a ‘run-in’ period where patients who are not adherent with monitoring can be identified and do not participate further. The clinical benefits of improving adherence far outweigh any possible adverse effects.
