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Factors that may affect patients' compliance with medication can be summarized along five
dimensions (Fawcett, 1995):
the treatment setting (e.g., primary care versus specialty office and inpatient versus
outpatient);
medication characteristics (e.g., side effects, individual sensitivity to side effects, simple
versus complicated medication regime);
Salzman (1995) emphasized that noncompliance may be an especially serious issue in the
elderly, where its prevalence may be as high as 75%. He identified three common forms of
treatment nonadherence in the elderly: overuse and abuse, forgetting, and alteration of schedules
and doses. Overuse of prescribed drugs could lead to emergence of or increase in side effects.
Treatment Adherence
During the initial visit, the physician should: define illness from the patient's point of view;
define target symptoms and severity; convey sympathy, support and understanding of the
patient's experience; provide rationale for use of medication (mention beneficial effects, disclose
side effects); elicit patient resistance to medication; explain the importance of taking the
prescribed dose; convey hope and optimism; establish a therapeutic alliance; and discuss
alternative treatments (Fawcett, 1995).
However, follow-up visits are also very important for enhancing and monitoring compliance.
During these visits, response should be assessed and possible side effects evaluated and
managed.
Reference:
http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/articles/managing-compliance/page/0/2