a:care book
a:care book
A new resource for healthcare professionals
Medication non-adherence remains one of the most persistent and costly challenges in healthcare. Despite advances in treatment and technology, nearly half of all patients fail to take their medications as prescribed, leading to preventable complications, hospitalizations, and increased healthcare costs.1
To address this issue, Abbott has developed a comprehensive new resource: the a:care book, now available for download. This book consolidates years of insights from behavioral science, digital health, and clinical practice into a practical guide for healthcare professionals seeking to improve patient adherence.
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A book built on the a:care experience
The a:care book is the culmination of the global a:care initiative, which has trained tens of thousands of healthcare professionals and engaged over 65 medical societies worldwide. It offers actionable strategies, real-world case studies, and evidence-based frameworks to help clinicians understand and influence patient behavior.
From cardiovascular disease to oncology, from chronic conditions to silent disorders, the book explores the psychological, social, and systemic factors that drive non-adherence and how to overcome them.
Endorsed by global experts
The book features forewords by Professor John Weinman and Dr. Sheri Pruitt, two of the world’s most respected voices in medication adherence and behavioral science.
Built on the a:care Congress experience
This book is grounded in the insights shared during the a:care events, including the a:care Congress, one of the world’s largest educational events on medication adherence and behavioral science. The congress brought together top experts across multiple medical specialties, including cardiology, oncology, neurology, women’s health, and public health, offering a multidisciplinary perspective on the challenges and solutions surrounding patient adherence. Their contributions helped shape the content and direction of the book, ensuring it reflects the latest thinking and best practices from global leaders in healthcare.
What’s inside
The a:care book is designed to be both comprehensive and practical. Key topics include:
- Behavioral science foundations: Understand the psychological drivers of adherence using models like COM-B, the Health Belief Model, and the Necessity-Concerns Framework.
- Motivational interviewing: Learn how to use empathy, open-ended questions, and patient-centered communication to foster behavioral change.
- Digital tools and AI: Explore how technology, including the a:care Insight tool and the my a:care app, can support adherence in clinical practice.
- Global perspectives: Discover how adherence challenges vary across regions and how cultural, economic, and systemic factors influence patient behavior.
- Clinical case studies: Review real-world examples from cardiovascular disease, oncology, and epilepsy, illustrating the impact of adherence on outcomes.
The book also includes downloadable slides to support training, education, and presentations.
Why it matters
Improving adherence is not just about reminders or pill counts. It’s about understanding the patient. This book helps healthcare professionals shift from treating diseases to treating people, using behavioral insights to build trust, motivation, and long-term engagement.
Whether you’re a physician, pharmacist, nurse, educator, or policymaker, the a:care book offers tools to:
- Identify patients at risk of non-adherence
- Communicate more effectively
- Implement personalized interventions
- Improve clinical and economic outcomes
Authored by leaders in digital healthcare
Dr Olivier Gryson, PharmD, MSc, is Global Head of Digital Healthcare at Abbott, where he leads digital health strategy across 95+ markets and spearheaded the creation of the a:care behavioral science ecosystem. With over 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, he has driven global digital transformation and patient engagement initiatives.
Oana Butu is Global eHealth Lead at Abbott and strategic driver of the a:care program, where she has led digital health adoption across 15+ markets and pioneered the world’s largest behavioral science congress on adherence. With over 20 years in healthcare and a background in patient engagement, AI, and service design, she brings deep expertise in translating behavioral science into scalable solutions.
Download now!
The a:care book and accompanying slides are available for free download. Join thousands of healthcare professionals worldwide who are transforming adherence from a challenge into an opportunity for better care.
Download the book
Download the slides
Q&A
The a:care book is a free educational resource for healthcare professionals, offering evidence-based strategies to improve patient medication adherence using behavioral science and digital tools.
Poor adherence affects up to 50% of patients and leads to worse health outcomes, increased hospitalizations, and higher healthcare costs1. Improving adherence can significantly enhance treatment effectiveness and patient well-being.
The book explores models like COM-B, the Health Belief Model, the Necessity-Concerns Framework, and motivational interviewing to help healthcare professionals understand and influence patient behavior.
It provides practical tools, case studies, and communication strategies to identify non-adherence risks, personalize interventions, and foster long-term patient engagement.
The book introduces tools like the a:care Insight behavioral risk calculator and the my a:care mobile app, which support adherence through personalized coaching and reminders.
Healthcare professionals can download the full book and accompanying slides directly from the a:care professional website https://acarepro.abbott.com.
The book covers adherence challenges in multiple conditions such as cardiovascular disease, oncology, epilepsy, and chronic conditions, with global case studies and clinical insights.
Providers can apply its frameworks to assess adherence risk, improve patient communication, implement digital interventions, and enhance clinical outcomes.
It means moving beyond clinical protocols to understand the patient’s context, beliefs, and motivations. The book encourages HCPs to adopt a more empathetic, collaborative approach that empowers patients in their health journey.
This article was written with the assistance of generative AI technology and reviewed for accuracy.