Low treatment adherence is a significant issue that limits the effective management and treatment of chronic conditions, creating significant healthcare burden, costs, and poor patient outcomes.

This report reviews the factors that influence treatment adherence, describes current limitations for measuring adherence, and provides insight into some of the most well-studied interventions that may improve treatment adherence, particularly in the context of medication use. The report also includes findings from a set of studies conducted by Fullscript, drawing upon insights collected from integrative practitioners using the Fullscript platform to recommend supplement and lifestyle-oriented treatment plans.

Authors

Ross Bailey, MKin, BScKin

Lead Analyst, Medical Innovation

Ross graduated from Queen’s University with a Bachelor of Science specializing in kinesiology, then completed a Master’s in Kinesiology at Western University. At Western, he worked as a teaching assistant in the cadaver labs for undergraduate anatomy courses. Ross enjoys conducting in-depth research reviews on a variety of medical topics and is an advocate for evidence-based decision support. He actively engages in continuing education on subjects like research methods in systematic reviews and meta-analyses, supplement quality standards, and the regulation of sports nutrition.

Christopher Knee, ND, MSc

Medical Education Manager

Dr. Christopher Knee is a naturopathic doctor, clinical researcher, and natural health and wellness expert from Ottawa, Canada. As the research and education manager for Fullscript’s Integrative Medical Advisory team, he oversees research projects and the development of medical education content for practitioners and patients across North America. He completed Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the University of Guelph in human kinetics and human biology and nutritional sciences, respectively, and naturopathic training at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine. He's passionate about evidence-informed practice, patient education, health services research, and natural medicines. He has almost 15 years of academic, industry, and advisory experience, having worked with various organizations, including The Ottawa Hospital, the Ottawa Police Service, the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, the Ontario Association of Naturopathic Doctors, the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, Valeant Pharmaceuticals, Nordion, and Pfizer.

Alex Keller, ND

Medical Director

Dr. Alex Keller is a licensed and practicing naturopathic doctor in Ottawa, Canada and the medical director at Fullscript. As medical director, he oversees the Integrative Medical Advisory team (IMAT) and the development of educational content for practitioners across North America. He is a graduate of the University of Ottawa with an HBSc in Health Sciences and Psychology. Although originally planning to attend conventional medical school, Dr. Keller shifted direction and completed a degree in naturopathic medicine at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine. The shift followed a three-month internship at a rural Kenyan hospital where he worked with doctors who used local food to successfully treat patients, after which he felt compelled to practice a diet-oriented system of medicine. Today, he splits his time working for Fullscript, seeing patients, and developing an innovative regenerative farming operation. He lives with his wife Jenn and their two children on a 50-acre farm outside Ottawa.