Importance of adherence to medical treatment

Non-adherence to medical treatment is the core issue of pharmionics; the study of what patients do with prescribed medications. Non-adherence refers to unfilled prescriptions, incorrect dosing intervals, skipped dosages or premature cessation of medication. Reports of nonadherence are in the range of 20-80%, with an estimated average of 50%. In dermatology, the rate of adherence is lower for topical medication.