Survey of the nature and prevalence of patients' noncompliance and implications for intervention

The problem of patients' noncompliance is discussed, noting possible biases in estimates of prevalence (18 to 82%) which may overestimate compliance rates and frequent failure to define conditions constituting compliance. This survey obtained information on the nature and incidence of noncompliance from a "healthy," Census-based, sample (n = 148), age 20 to 79 years. Data were examined to identify relationships among variables in compliance and demographic characteristics. The typical household had 3.9 prescribed drugs, 46% of respondents chose generic products, 54% preferred tablets or pills, and 69% cited physicians as their primary information source on medications. Rates were identified for obtaining and using all prescribed drugs and following frequency and dose instructions for prescriptions. Full compliance was reported by 25%, and seriousness of illness was the most important factor cited as an influence.