HEALTHCARE leaders delved into the pivotal role of pharmacists in fostering positive health behaviour change during last Sat's PC2024 conference.
Dr Craig Nossel, co-founder, Sciana Health, and Danelle Lynn, Dispensary Operations Manager, Sigma Healthcare, highlighted significant barriers in medication adherence for people.
By exploring human psychology behind behaviour modification, attendees gained insights into effective strategies for promoting healthier lifestyles.
Research shows a major drop-off of medication usage by patients at each stage: from doctor's prescription to pharmacy dispensing, proper usage, finishing the course, and follow-up visits.
Factors such as accessibility, cost, side effects, and personal and cultural attitudes play critical roles in health behaviours.
Behavioural economics, often overlooked in healthcare, reveal that people make decisions based on convenience and psychological biases rather than rational knowledge alone.
Dr Nossel said techniques like personalised messaging and framing health incentives through loss aversion can improve adherence.
The challenge lies in understanding and influencing complex human behaviours.
He gave examples such as health screening rates increasing when an incentive of points was offered; and placing a very expensive item at the front of the shop had customers thinking other costly items looked cheap.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 10 Sep 24
To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 10 Sep 24
