1. What is Medication Adherence?

Medication adherence refers to the degree to which a patient correctly follows their prescribed medication regimen. The Percentage of Days Covered (PDC) is a common metric used to measure adherence, calculated as the proportion of days in an observation period that a patient had medication available.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the PDC formula:

Where:

• Days with Medication — Number of days the patient had medication available
• Observation Period — Total number of days in the measurement period

Explanation: This calculation provides a percentage that represents how consistently a patient had access to their medication during the specified time period.

3. Importance of Medication Adherence

Details: Proper medication adherence is crucial for effective disease management, preventing complications, reducing hospitalizations, and improving overall health outcomes. PDC values of 80% or higher are generally considered adherent.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the number of days the patient had medication available and the total observation period in days. Both values must be valid (days with medication cannot exceed observation period).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is considered good medication adherence?
A: Generally, a PDC of 80% or higher is considered good adherence for most chronic medications.

Q2: How is PDC different from MPR?
A: While both measure adherence, PDC is generally preferred as it accounts for overlapping medication fills and provides a more conservative estimate of adherence.

Q3: What factors can affect medication adherence?
A: Factors include cost, side effects, complexity of regimen, forgetfulness, health literacy, and patient-provider relationship.

Q4: How can adherence be improved?
A: Strategies include medication reminders, simplified regimens, patient education, addressing side effects, and regular follow-ups.

Q5: Is PDC used for all types of medications?
A: PDC is most commonly used for chronic medications where consistent adherence is important for disease management.