Issues in patient compliance

Patient compliance refers to the willingness and ability of an individual to follow health-related advice, to take medication as prescribed, to attend scheduled clinic appointments and to complete recommended investigations. It is a major health issue, with outcomes related to levels of morbidity, mortality and cost utilisation. Poor compliance has been reported as the most common cause of nonresponse to medication, with evidence to show that patients who adhere to treatment recommendations have better health outcomes than those who do not adhere, even when taking a placebo. Evidence-based practice guidelines, founded on clinical, behavioural and educational concepts, provide a means of measuring outcomes related to health status, patient satisfaction and cost-benefit issues, and may help to ensure that responsibility for compliance is shared between the clinician and the patient.