[Noncompliance relevant variables in patients with onychomycosis]

In a prospective clinical study we have investigated the relevant non-compliance variables with 96 patients affected by onychomycosis, who underwent a combined treatment of nail abrasion and application of a topical antifungal. The patients' non-compliance amounted to 24% of the complete group examined. Significantly this occurred more frequently with men (31.6%) than with women (12.8%), and also more frequently with older women than younger women. It occurred with 42% of the male and female pensioners and with 43% of the students. Furthermore, the group of non-compliance patients, in addition to their onychomycosis, frequently exhibited other illnesses requiring treatment in greater degree than the compliant patients. Additional rising variables, e.g. in the seriousness of the clinical outbreaks on the nails and the number of mycotic nails, did not contribute to an explanation of the differences in compliance behavior of the patients. By careful observation of the compliance factors in relation to specific illnesses, a more favorable set of conditions should be achieved in future for the improvement of patient behavior.