Medication adherence is a powerful factor in improving health outcomes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adherence to prescribed medications is associated with improved clinical outcomes for chronic disease management and reduced mortality from chronic conditions. But unfortunately, individuals at an alarming rate are not taking their medications as prescribed, which can have serious but avoidable consequences.
Retail pharmacies seek solutions to address this vexing healthcare problem, including calendarized medication adherence packaging. Covectra recently commissioned research to gain additional insights into individuals’ perceptions and value of calendarized medication adherence packaging. The study revealed that patients and caregivers value calendarized adherence packaging and believe it improves personalization. Additionally, adherence and calendarization are recognized as important by all. Read on to learn more.
Calendarized Medication Adherence Perceived as an Effective Adherence Method
To help address medication adherence issues, calendarized medication adherence packaging incorporates a day and date feature to prompt patients to maintain their prescribed dosing schedule. Respondents overwhelmingly agree that calendarized medication adherence packaging is an effective adherence method. 89% of respondents feel the calendarized adherence packaging enables patients to complete the prescription and stay on treatment.
Adherence Package Viewed as More Personalized
Personalization matters to consumers more than ever. Consumers now view personalization as a standard for engagement. Personalization makes customers feel valued and improves brand loyalty. Calendarized adherence packaging is viewed as a method with a high degree of personalization. 76% of respondents believe that calendarized medication adherence packaging feels more personalized.
Adherence and Calendarization Rated Important by Most
While the medication adherence rate is astonishingly low, individuals do recognize it as a critical issue. 99% of respondents said that medication adherence is somewhat or very important to them. And of that, 73% said that medication adherence is very important to them.
Calendarized packaging is also recognized as beneficial, with 91% of respondents stating that calendarized medication packaging is somewhat or very important to them.
A Persistent Reorder Reminder has Value
A key aspect of non-adherence is the deficiency in refilling prescriptions. A majority of people forget to take or administer medication, fail to refill, and reorder prescription and state that reorder reminders on their prescription would be of value. 84% say a reorder reminder on their pills would be of value. 84% say they have forgotten to take or administer prescription medication. 64% say they have failed to refill a prescription medication.53% say they have forgotten to reorder their medication.
QR Codes are Gateways to Information and Ecommerce
While QR codes have been around for decades, they came into everyone’s daily lives during the pandemic when restaurants used them on menus. Now they are considered a convenient and valuable method for accessing information in healthcare. 73% of respondents said they would be inclined to use the QR code if their prescription medication came with it and connected them to additional pharmacy services such as rewards, patient communities, easy refill options, and other incentives. Plus, 85% said a QR code on their prescription to access web-based medication information would be somewhat or very important or useful to them.
Environmentally Friendly Packaging is Significant
Consumers continue to express concerns about climate change and sustainability resulting in a significant interest in purchasing environmentally friendly products. 85% of respondents said environmentally friendly prescription medication packaging is somewhat or very important to them.
Where Do Customers Obtain Prescriptions?
While the use of online pharmacies is certainly on the rise. Currently most individuals are still predominantly buying the prescription at in-store pharmacies which leaves substantial room for growth in the online pharmacy market. 88% of respondents say they currently most often use in-store pharmacies to obtain prescriptions.
