Researcher Urges Policy Measures to Improve Medication Adherence

Health researcher, Dr. D. Malcolm Brewster, is highlighting the need for comprehensive policy measures and healthcare system reforms to improve medication adherence.

This follows findings from a recent study he conducted, which found that nearly 70 per cent of patients with hypertension and diabetes attending the Gordon Town and Windward Road health centres were not taking their medication as prescribed.

This study titled ‘Awareness, Attitudes and Practices Relating to Anti-Diabetic and Anti-Hypertensive Medication Adherence Among Patients Attending Health Centres in Kingston and St. Andrew,’ was presented at the recent 16th National Health Research Conference.

Speaking at a JIS Think Tank on Thursday (March 19), Dr. Brewster, who is a medical practitioner, shared details of the study including several key recommendations aimed at strengthening adherence strategies across the healthcare system.

These include training healthcare providers to more effectively assess patient adherence, implementing robust systems to track and evaluate adherence data, and developing national programmes specifically focused on improving medication adherence.

Highlighting the critical role of culture in shaping patient behaviour, Dr. Brewster noted that healthcare interventions must acknowledge and incorporate the influence of family and community beliefs.

“We have to find a way to ensure that there is synergy between what Granny says, what Auntie says, what patient does, and what we want them to do based on the studies,” he said.

Dr. Brewster pointed to the value of engaging patients in open discussions about traditional and herbal remedies, which are commonly used alongside prescribed treatments. He believes that acknowledging these practices can build trust and improve health outcomes. “If a patient says they’re taking herbal medicine, I want to know more, and then I will go and see what the science says,” he said.

The study focused on patients attending public primary care clinics and relied on self-reported data, which, he admitted, may introduce some bias. However, the findings are consistent with broader regional and global research on medication adherence. The research contributes to a growing body of evidence highlighting the complexity of medication adherence and the need for integrated, culturally-informed, and data-driven approaches within healthcare systems.