Association of Patients Reading Clinical Notes With Perception of Medication Adherence Among Persons With Serious Mental Illness
Charlotte Blease, Zhiyong Dong, John Torous, Jan Walker, Maria Hägglund, Catherine M. DesRoches
Abstract
Among patients with SMI, access to clinicians' notes may help clarify why medications have been prescribed and improve understanding of possible side effects. The findings of this study are promising in light of evidence that rates of psychotropic medication adherence for patients with major depressive disorders, bipolar disorders, and schizophrenia are only approximately 50%. 6 This study has several limitations. The survey did not determine the kinds of medication on which participants based their responses. While the definition we used for SMI was supported by the literature and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, the results may vary based on the definition. Because the survey was reliant on self-report measures, it was unknown whether response biases affected the survey. While the response rate was moderate for an online survey, the demographic breakdown and sampling restriction to 3 US health systems were further limitations.