What do systematic reviews say?

Adherence education vs controls

• Interventions to improve adherence to inhaled steroids for asthma 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  5 studies · 280 participants
  Low

Adherence education vs controls

Adherence education showed no clear difference in exacerbations requiring OCS (people with 1 or more) WMD of compared with controls (low certainty).

• Interventions to improve adherence to inhaled steroids for asthma 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.82 [0.99, 3.36]
  3 studies · 349 participants
  Low

Adherence education vs controls

• Interventions to improve adherence to inhaled steroids for asthma 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  4 studies · 455 participants
  Moderate
• Interventions to improve adherence to inhaled steroids for asthma 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  3 studies · 333 participants
  Moderate

Adherence education vs controls

It is very uncertain whether adherence education changes unsheduled visits to a healthcare provider (people with 1 or more)… compared with controls (very low certainty).

• Interventions to improve adherence to inhaled steroids for asthma 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.48 [0.19, 1.19]
  4 studies · 688 participants
  Very low

Adherence education vs controls

• Interventions to improve adherence to inhaled steroids for asthma 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 109 participants
  GRADE not reported

Adherence education vs controls

• Interventions to improve adherence to inhaled steroids for asthma 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  6 studies · 734 participants
  Moderate

Video education vs written education

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for helping people adhere to compression treatments for venous leg ulceration 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Summary of findings: multimedia education vs no education or usual care

• Multimedia educational interventions for consumers about prescribed and over‐the‐counter medications 2013 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 343 participants
  Low

Educational intervention vs control

• Educational, supportive and behavioural interventions to improve usage of continuous positive airway pressure machines… 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  6 studies · 698 participants
  Very low

Reminders (+/‐ educational information) vs usual family planning care

• Strategies to improve adherence and continuation of shorter‐term hormonal methods of contraception 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 73 participants
  Low

Reminders (+/‐ educational information) vs usual family planning care

Reminders (+/‐ educational information) showed no clear difference in adherence to method use as indicated by on‐time injections overall compared with usual family planning care (low certainty).

• Strategies to improve adherence and continuation of shorter‐term hormonal methods of contraception 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.84 [0.54, 1.29]
  2 studies · 350 participants
  Low

Gamified oral health interventions (mobile apps, serious games, augmented reality, game-based education) vs Conventional or traditional oral health education, or non-gamified interventions (comparator varied; several studies were single-arm/uncontrolled)

Gamified interventions appear to increase children's engagement and adherence to oral hygiene routines, but the evidence is narrative and ungraded.

• The Application of Gamification in Children's Oral Health Management: Systematic Review. 2025 All outcomes

  Post-intervention (predominantly short-term; long-term follow-up in a minority of studies) · School-based settings, specialized dental clinics, and home-based environments
  The regular use rate was significantly higher (72.4%) in the gamified mobile health app group than in the nongamified intervention group (48.3%) [Zolfaghari 2021]; quiz-based challenges in mobile apps encouraged higher…
  Studies not reported
  GRADE not reported

Patient education vs comparisons to improve professional performance

Patient education interventions probably leads to higher adherence to recommended clinical practice (0‐3 months compared with comparisons to improve professional performance (moderate certainty).

• Patient‐mediated interventions to improve professional practice 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.31 [1.12, 1.54]
  4 studies · 1029 participants
  Moderate

Intervention not reported

• Strategies for improving adherence to antiepileptic drug treatment in people with epilepsy 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  13 studies · 1938 participants
  Moderate

Active education + Support for implementation vs Routine care or Passive dissemination

It is very uncertain whether active education + Support for implementation changes patient outcome: treatment adherence: not adherent at compared with routine care or Passive dissemination (very low certainty).

• Implementation of treatment guidelines for specialist mental health care 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.9 [0.44, 1.85]
  1 study · 52 participants
  Very low

Educational or behavioural interventions for patients vs usual care

• Interventions for improving modifiable risk factor control in the secondary prevention of stroke 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  13 studies · 33762 participants
  Low

Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs Educational intervention (oral hygiene education/instruction)

• Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal diseases 2007 · Cochrane All outcomes

  5 weeks (2 weeks post-intervention)
  Stewart 1991: for self reported brushing only the comparison of the control group with the cognitive behavioural intervention was significant; the cognitive behavioural (psychological) intervention showed no…
  1 study · 50 participants
  GRADE not reported

Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs Educational intervention (oral hygiene education/instruction)

• Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal diseases 2007 · Cochrane All outcomes

  5 weeks (2 weeks post-intervention)
  Stewart 1991: while the educational intervention group and the cognitive behavioural intervention group both showed significant differences compared to the control group in plaque scores, the cognitive behavioural…
  1 study · 50 participants
  GRADE not reported

Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs Educational intervention (oral hygiene education/instruction)

• Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal diseases 2007 · Cochrane All outcomes

  5 weeks (2 weeks post-intervention)
  Stewart 1991: there were no differences between the educational intervention group and the cognitive behavioural (psychological) intervention group for self reported flossing; improvements in flossing could not be…
  1 study · 50 participants
  GRADE not reported

Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs Educational intervention (oral hygiene education/instruction)

• Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal diseases 2007 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Stewart 1996: there was no difference in change in dental knowledge at post-intervention between the educational and psychological groups (both improved significantly relative to control).
  1 study · 78 participants
  GRADE not reported