Strategies to improve patient compliance with antihypertensive therapy

Compliance is a critical issue in the treatment of hypertension. Strategies designed for individual patients, based on an analysis of their specific personality characteristics, are probably the most productive. At present, however, necessary educational diagnoses cannot easily be made. Therefore, more general strategies involving simplification of the treatment regimen, stimuli to appropriate behavior, positive reinforcement, increased attention by providers, and open communications should be employed. These are of particular value for patients with inadequately controlled blood pressure who admit to noncompliance.