Can simple approaches improve medication adherence in people with COPD?

Single-component interventions, such as provision of education or motivational interviewing by a health professional, can help improve adherence to pharmacotherapy. Similarly, single-component interventions may also help improve quality of life.

Multi‐component interventions, which can include structured education and motivational or behavioural components provided by a health professional, may also help improve medication adherence in people who have mild to severe COPD for medium to long‐term duration.

Low to moderate‐certainty evidence shows that pharmacist‐led approaches may be beneficial in reducing the number of people admitted to hospital (for any reason or COPD related).

There was no apparent difference in the number of people experiencing exacerbations, adverse events, serious adverse events or deaths between those receiving interventions to improve adherence and those who did not.