SynthesisInternational journal of clinical pharmacy2023
Association between health literacy and medication adherence in chronic diseases: a recent systematic review.
Synthesis in International journal of clinical pharmacy, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 54 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
54 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 68 citations in OpenAlex.
- What is the impact of health literacy on healthcare costs? A systematic review and evidence synthesis.BMJ open · 2025Pooled it
- Health literacy and tuberculosis control: systematic review and meta-analysis.Bulletin of the World Health Organization · 2024Pooled it
- The effectiveness of metacognitive therapy on emotional distress tolerance and medication adherence in patients with generalized anxiety disorder: a pilot randomized controlled trial.BMC psychology · 2026Trial
- Two-Year Follow-Up of a Communication Intervention on Medication Adherence and Health Literacy in Kidney Transplanted Recipients-A Randomised Controlled Study.Journal of renal care · 2025Trial
- Association of Parental Health Literacy with Treatment Adherence and Clinical Outcomes in Adolescents with Allergic Rhinitis: A Controlled Longitudinal Study.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
- The SILVER Platter for Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): An IBD Pharmacy Technician-Led Subcutaneous Biologic Home Delivery Service Is Associated with Sustained Improvement in Adherence and Active Health Management.Digestive diseases and sciences · 2026Article
- Associations Between Patient Satisfaction with Pharmacist Services, Social Support, and Medication Adherence in Chronic Dermatological Conditions: A Cross-Sectional Study.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Initiation of antidepressant medicines in Swedish patients diagnosed with COVID-19: a registry-based cohort study.Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology · 2026Article
- The role of health literacy in medication adherence among people living with multiple sclerosis: a cross-sectional study in Isfahan, Iran.BMC neurology · 2026Article
- The Effect of Medication Beliefs on Medication Adherence in Patients After TKA: A Moderated Mediation Model.International journal of behavioral medicine · 2026Article
- Estimating hypertension medication adherence among adults using linked Belgian health interview survey and administrative pharmacy refill data.BMC public health · 2026Article
- Association of Health Literacy with Sociodemographic Factors and Medication Adherence Among Primary Health Care Users in Montenegro.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Role of Shame and Concealment in Patient-Provider Communication Among Individuals With Low Health Literacy: Protocol for a Scoping Review.JMIR research protocols · 2026Article
- Medication Adherence Among Hypertensive Patients in Bangladesh: A Nationwide Analysis of Gender and Urban-Rural Disparities.International journal of hypertension · 2026Article
- Therapeutic Adherence in Cardiovascular Diseases: Insights from the Patient and Physician-A Narrative Review.Advances in therapy · 2026Review
- Linking health literacy to medication adherence in chronic disease management from a community pharmacy perspective.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Associations of family health and perceived social support with health literacy among middle-aged and older adults with chronic diseases: a mediation and network analysis.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Factors associated with patient adherence to medical recommendations during a health crisis.PloS one · 2026Article
- AI-generated explanations in kidney transplantation: accuracy vs. readability and implications for patient education.Frontiers in artificial intelligence · 2026Article
- What do cancer patients discuss online regarding CINV management? A social media-based topic modeling study.Frontiers in oncology · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundPoor medication adherence is a serious barrier to successful chronic disease management. Previous reviews reported that low health literacy could be associated with medication non-adherence but conclusions were uncertain.
aimThe aim of this systematic review was to clarify the relationship between health literacy and medication adherence in adults with chronic diseases. A secondary objective was to identify the factors that influence medication adherence.
methodPublications analyzing the relationship between health literacy and adherence in adults with chronic diseases were identified through 6 databases between 2015 and 2020. A quality assessment was conducted in order to improve the interpretation of the relationship between health literacy and medication adherence. A narrative synthesis was then performed to describe the relationship between health literacy and medication adherence. The factors influencing medication adherence were then analyzed as a secondary outcome.
resultsAmong the 27 studies, 17 and 10 were considered to be of good and medium methodological quality, respectively. Concerning the relationship between health literacy and adherence, 14 reported a positive relationship, 1 study suggested a negative relationship, 3 found mixed results, and 9 reported not finding a relationship. Patient-related factors such as medication beliefs, self-efficacy, or medication knowledge, as well as demographic factors such as ethnic minority and incomes influence medication adherence.
conclusionThe present review confirms an unclear relationship between health literacy and medication adherence. Although health literacy plays a substantial role in medication adherence, other factors must be taken into account when addressing non-adherence.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.