Examples of especially challenging patient groups with regard to medication adherence according to the GPs
| Challenging patient groups | Citations |
| Patients with hypercholesterolaemia | I cannot see why there is not more discussion of simvastatin. I’m in a true simvastatin rumba with my patients…(refers to media attention) |
| Patients with asthma | Many patients with asthma take their medication in a totally irrational manner. For example, if they have symptoms and they have to walk the dog, they may take first the treatment drug and then the opening drug. They so easily stop taking the drug if they are in good balance. |
| Patients with diabetes | Diabetes and hypertension are the difficult ones as they do not give symptoms. |
| Patients with hypertension | I have had those hypertension patients who only take the drugs when they feel a little dizzy. |
| Patients with a serious cardiovascular disease | The patients with cardiovascular disease, after they have been treated and are symptom free, may stop wanting to take their medications… they may not understand the drugs in fact may cure. First you are all well, then in secondary care you are prescribed a magnitude of drugs, it’s often difficult to understand. |
| Patients who are discharged from hospital | They are so busy there (in secondary care) and need to get these patients out quickly, so they don’t have time to motivate them to take the medications correctly. |
| Caregivers | I’ve met caregivers who do not have information of the appropriate care. If they are not present when the medication is prescribed, they may not understand it and be able to assist in the medication management. |