1. What is Medication Adherence Calculation?

Medication adherence calculation measures how consistently patients take their prescribed medications. The Proportion of Days Covered (PDC) method calculates adherence as the percentage of days in a measurement period that the patient had medication available.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the PDC formula:

Where:

• \( Days\ Covered \) — Number of days the patient had medication available
• \( Days\ in\ Period \) — Total number of days in the measurement period

Explanation: This formula calculates the percentage of days covered by medication supply during a specific time period, providing a measure of medication adherence.

3. Importance of Adherence Measurement

Details: Medication adherence is crucial for treatment effectiveness, disease management, and preventing complications. Poor adherence leads to treatment failure, disease progression, and increased healthcare costs.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the number of days the patient had medication available and the total days in the measurement period. Days covered cannot exceed days in period, and both values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is considered good medication adherence?
A: Typically, adherence rates of 80% or higher are considered good. Rates below 80% may indicate poor adherence that could affect treatment outcomes.

Q2: How is PDC different from MPR?
A: PDC (Proportion of Days Covered) measures coverage gaps more accurately than MPR (Medication Possession Ratio). PDC is generally preferred for adherence measurement.

Q3: What time period should be used for calculation?
A: Common measurement periods are 30, 60, or 90 days. The period should be consistent for comparison purposes.

Q4: How are overlapping prescriptions handled?
A: PDC methodology typically accounts for medication overlap by extending coverage when multiple fills occur before previous supply is exhausted.

Q5: What factors can affect adherence rates?
A: Cost, side effects, complexity of regimen, patient understanding, and healthcare provider communication can all impact medication adherence.