Brooklyn Health Disparities Center Interdisciplinary Dialogues on Patient Adherence

A lack of adherence can cost up to $300 billion in direct costs..^{10 11} The rates are significantly lower among racial and ethnic minorities.¹¹ In order to effectively reduce disparities in treatment and outcome for these conditions, patient-centered and culturally tailored approaches to improving adherence are needed. Access to care does not fully explain disparities in adherence and persist well after adjustment for socioeconomic status are made¹². Other factors such as trust, perceived bias, self-efficacy, religiosity, health literacy, numeracy, as well as knowledge need to be explored as potential modifiable explanatory factors that predict adherence.  Therefore, a multidisciplinary approach must be taken that explores the social, cultural, environmental factors as well as potential differences in physiologic responses. Research and interventions must apply new methodology and culturally and linguistically tailored data collection tools.

Our goal is to engage key stakeholders in addressing this critical issue. Therefore, the target audience includes physicians, nurses, community health workers, community based organizations, community providers, faith-based leaders, pharmacists, pharmaceutical industry members, healthcare systems leaders, educators, and political leaders.