Adherence to treatment

Question 1

What is the definition of non-compliance?

Answer 1

When a person’s behaviour doesn’t correspond with agreed recommendations from a health care provider

Question 2

What is the overall average rate of adherence?

Answer 2

50%

Question 3

What are the consequences of non-compliance?

Answer 3

Increased hospital admissions- 1 in 5 hospital admissions are due to non-adherence
Rejection of transplants
Occurrence of complications
Development of drug resistance
Increased mortality

Question 4

What are the main causes of non-adherence?

Answer 4

Regime-related factors- including physical aspects e.g. packaging, complexity of regimes, frequency of schedule, duration, cost, side effects etc
Poor doctor-patient interaction
Psychosocial variables

Question 5

What factors affect recall of healthcare information?

Answer 5

Anxiety
Medical knowledge
Mental impairment

Question 6

What presentation factors affect recall of information?

Answer 6

Amount of information
Order
Stressing importance
Specificity 
Mode of presentation
Follow-up

Question 7

How can adherence to treatment be improved?

Answer 7

Ask
Simplify regime and packaging
Improve interaction including communication style and presentation
Identify and modify beliefs
Involve significant others and wider network and potential to use assistive technology