Enhancing adolescent compliance with medical regimens

Factors influencing compliance with medical regimens among adolescents have been the subject of few studies. Much current knowledge is either the product of conventional wisdom or the subject of debate. Direct and indirect methods are available to measure compliance. Models used to study patient compliance include the individualistic model, the health-belief model, and the physician-patient relationship model. This article itemizes a host of characteristics influencing poor compliance and describes a series of interventions to enhance compliance. Overall, it is important that the physician assess the adolescent's level of psychosocial development and the environmental factors that can influence compliance.