The pivotal contribution of pharmacists in enhancing patient understanding and promoting consistent medication usage: Strategies, obstacles and future outlooks

The effectiveness of treatment regimens is heavily reliant on patients consistently adhering to their prescribed medications. Despite its critical importance, adherence remains a persistent challenge across healthcare systems globally, often leading to suboptimal health outcomes, increased hospitalizations, and higher treatment expenses. Pharmacists, as accessible healthcare providers with specialized expertise in medication management, are uniquely positioned to influence and improve medication-taking behaviors. Their roles encompass providing tailored patient education, counseling, and deploying innovative support techniques to foster better adherence. This review explores the diverse functions pharmacists undertake to promote consistent medication use, examines the effectiveness of various intervention strategies, identifies common barriers faced by patients, and discusses potential avenues for enhancing pharmacist-led adherence support. Emphasizing a collaborative healthcare approach, this work underscores the indispensable role pharmacists play in optimizing therapeutic outcomes and advancing public health.