The review found that multifaceted interventions , addressing several non-adherence factors , were comparatively more effective in improving medication adherence and glycaemic target in patients with T2D than single strategies .
However , interventions with similar components and those addressing similar non-adherence factors demonstrated mixed results , making it difficult to conclude on effective intervention strategies to promote adherence .
Educational strategies have remained the most popular intervention strategy , followed by behavioural , with affective components becoming more common in recent years .
There is a noticeable shift in the literature from using single to multifaceted intervention strategies addressing a range of factors impacting adherence to medications .
BACKGROUND Poor adherence to anti-diabetic medications contributes to suboptimal glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes ( T2D ) .
A range of interventions have been developed to promote anti-diabetic medication adherence .
However , there has been very little focus on the characteristics of these interventions and how effectively they address factors that predict non-adherence .
In this systematic review we assessed the characteristics of interventions that aim ed to promote adherence to anti-diabetic medications .
Electronic monitoring and counseling to improve medication adherence.
Electronic caps , pill caps that record the date and time of pill bottle opening provide an objective measure of adherence to prescribed medication . A promising intervention to improve adherence , cue-dose training , involves review ing patients ' pill cap-generated reports concerning their medication-taking and offering individualized recommendations for remembering to take medications at specific times of day . In this preliminary study , 79 patients prescribed the antihyperglycemic medication metformin  had adherence assessed during a 4-week baseline period . Adherence , defined as proportion of prescribed doses taken within a predetermined 4-h window , was measured using electronic MEMS caps . Those who had less than 80 % baseline adherence ( n = 33 ) were r and omly assigned to either receive 4 months of cue-dose training ( n = 16 ) or to a control group ( n = 17 ) . Cue-dose training was associated with significantly better adherence to metformin ( mean improvement of 15 % ) . The effects of cue-dose  training on adherence to other antihyperglycemic medication did not reach statistical significance . Glycosylated hemoglobin ( a measure of blood sugar control ) did not differ between groups . Data from nine patients who review ed pill cap-generated data with their primary care providers suggested that both patients and providers found the discussion moderately helpful and not at all uncomfortable
The review found that multifaceted interventions , addressing several non-adherence factors , were comparatively more effective in improving medication adherence and glycaemic target in patients with T2D than single strategies .
However , interventions with similar components and those addressing similar non-adherence factors demonstrated mixed results , making it difficult to conclude on effective intervention strategies to promote adherence .
Educational strategies have remained the most popular intervention strategy , followed by behavioural , with affective components becoming more common in recent years .
There is a noticeable shift in the literature from using single to multifaceted intervention strategies addressing a range of factors impacting adherence to medications .
BACKGROUND Poor adherence to anti-diabetic medications contributes to suboptimal glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes ( T2D ) .
A range of interventions have been developed to promote anti-diabetic medication adherence .
However , there has been very little focus on the characteristics of these interventions and how effectively they address factors that predict non-adherence .
In this systematic review we assessed the characteristics of interventions that aim ed to promote adherence to anti-diabetic medications .