For people who are intentionally not taking their medicines as prescribed, a person-centred approach is needed. Understanding their reasons for not taking their medicines, will make it easier to work with them to find a solution that has maximum health benefit.

Establishing their ideas, concerns and expectations regarding their health and medicines, will help in identifying and minimising barriers to adherence. Barriers such as concern about side effects or not understanding the necessity of taking the medicines, are relatively easy to overcome with education. Others, such as their personal health beliefs, may be more difficult to address.

Handling intentional non-adherence may be challenging as the patient has made a conscious decision not to take their medicine. However, inviting someone for an NMS consultation opens up the dialogue, allowing them the opportunity to ask any questions they might have.