A behavioral approach to patient compliance

A behavioral program for increasing a patient's compliance with a drug regimen can be administered by a physician or by trained health care personnel. The program focuses first on the development of a strong external cue to the timing of medication and then on helping the patient to have realistic expectations and to establish an appropriate self-reward for compliance. Monitoring of degree of compliance is essential to the success of the program, as is development of a cooperative, rather than authoritatian, relationship between physician and patient.