Medication compliance is crucial for positive health outcomes, yet many patients struggle to consistently follow their prescribed regimens. One effective way to improve adherence is by gathering and using patient feedback. Electronic Medication Administration Records (eMAR) systems can play a key role in collecting, analysing, and applying this feedback. Here, we explore how patient feedback can enhance compliance and how eMAR systems help in this process.
Why does patient feedback matter?
- Understanding barriers: Patients face various barriers to taking their medication as prescribed, such as side effects, complex dosing schedules, and forgetfulness. Direct feedback can help healthcare providers understand and address these obstacles.
- Personalising care: Patient feedback allows healthcare professionals to adjust medication plans based on individual needs and preferences.
- Building trust: When patients are involved in decisions about their care, they are more likely to feel a sense of ownership and trust their healthcare providers.
Ways to gather patient feedback
- Surveys and questionnaires: Healthcare professionals must distribute regular surveys to patients to gather information on their experiences and any challenges they face with their medication.
- Interviews and focus groups: They should conduct interviews to collect detailed insights into patients’ adherence behaviours and challenges.
- Patient portals and apps: They should use digital tools such as patient portals or mobile apps to make it easy for patients to share their feedback.
Analysing patient feedback
- Identify common themes: Healthcare professionals should analyse the feedback to identify recurring issues that might be impacting adherence.
- Track changes over time: They should use technological tools such as eMAR to track changes in patient feedback and assess the impact of interventions on medication compliance.
eMAR and medication compliance: how does eMAR help?
- Automated feedback collection: eMAR systems can be integrated with patient portals or apps. It can help patients easily submit feedback on their experiences.
- Tracking compliance trends: These systems track medication administration. This helps healthcare providers connect feedback with actual compliance data.
- Personalised reminders: Based on feedback, eMAR systems can send personalised reminders to patients, helping them take their medication at the right time.
- Data-driven interventions: eMAR data can be analysed to spot patterns of non-compliance linked to patient feedback.
Gathering and using patient feedback is a powerful way to improve medication compliance. eMAR systems support this effort by simplifying the process of collecting and using patient insights.
