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Objective. To compare pharmacy students’ perceptions with patients’ reasons for medication non-adherence.

Methods. Pharmacy students completing an experiential rotation recruited patients exhibiting medication non-adherence from community pharmacies and asked them to respond to statements about reasons for their medication non-adherence. Patient responses were ranked in order of prevalence and compared to self-reported student perceptions on reasons for non-adherence.

Results. There was a significant difference between patients' and students' rankings of reasons for medication non-adherence. Significant factors for patients included medications that interfere with lifestyle, sexual health and drinking alcohol; whereas, students believed that cognitive-related issues were patients’ primary reasons for non-adherence to their medications.

Conclusion. Educational opportunities to reflect on and discuss …