Virtual workshop held to tackle worldwide lack of adherence to medical treatment

In Việt Nam and across the world, the lack of adherence to medical treatments is a critical public health challenge, participants heard at an exclusive workshop on October 5.

The virtual workshop, entitled ‘Adherence: From Treating Diseases to Treating People”, was organized by Abbott, a US healthcare company, to share the health and economic consequences caused by a lack of adherence to medical treatment.

The session was addressed by Prof. John Weinman of King’s College, London, who is commonly recognized as a founder of modern health psychology. Other eminent speakers included Dr. Sheri Pruitt, a Clinical Psychologist and Behavioral Science Consultant from the US, Prof. John Piette, Professor of Health Behavior & Health Education and Director of the Centre for Managing Chronic Disease, Ann Arbour, in the US.

The speakers discussed the various components of adherence, including social and economic factors, the role of behavioral science, and how to make action efficient and sustainable adherence solutions.

“Adherence is an observable and measurable behavior that is typically repeated, such as taking daily medication or exercising. When patients don’t adhere to advice, behavioral science can provide interventions that help them change their behavior,” said Dr. Sheri Pruitt, Clinical Psychologist, and Behavioral Science Consultant.

During the online event, world-renowned experts across therapeutic areas shared their knowledge, experiences, and insights about adherence. This has significant implications for Việt Nam where the non-adherence rates among patients living with chronic conditions are very high; more than 50 percent in case of hypertension, for example.

A study in the rural northern region of Việt Nam in 2017 revealed that two-thirds of people living with Type 2 diabetes have uncontrolled blood sugar levels (HbA1C > 7 percent) and 31.9 percent of people diagnosed with this condition do not adhere to their medication. Addressing poor adherence can therefore be beneficial for Việt Nam’s rising diabetic population of 3.8 million people, which is projected to double by 2045.