Medication adherence: a healthcare blind spot we can measure better

The plan is visible; implementation often is not

A prescription records what should happen. It does not by itself show whether treatment started, how it was followed each day, or when it stopped. Those are different phases and should not be compressed into one unexplained percentage.

Each data source answers a different question

A pharmacy refill suggests supply, self-report adds personal context, and an electronic event adds timing. None is automatically proof of correct ingestion, and each measure needs a clear denominator and observation period.

An opening is an opening, a refill is a supply event, and a recorded status is a recorded status.

Swiss research compares practical measurement signals

University of Basel researchers have compared dispensing data with electronic monitoring in a small anticoagulant study population. Geneva and Lausanne teams have used electronic records inside interprofessional adherence programs. These studies add measurement insight, not population-wide certainty.

Monitoring is useful when it supports feedback

Research suggests electronic-monitoring feedback may help in some settings, while clinical-outcome evidence remains uncertain. The purpose should be a better, non-judgmental conversation—not automatic treatment decisions or constant surveillance.

Adherlo can add visibility without claiming certainty

Adherlo supports schedules, reminders, taken-or-skipped records, history, and optional Smart Pillbox events. These signals can support review; they do not establish ingestion, adherence outcomes, or clinical benefit.