title: Patient compliance: a challenge in practice.
abstract: Non-compliance with medication regimens is a major public health problem. Much research has been carried out and several theories have been developed to explain and correlate a variety of factors that influence a person's willingness to comply with treatment recommendations. The literature cites 24 behaviors that have a positive effect on patient compliance. However, according to a recent survey conducted by the authors, only 11 of these behaviors are reported as being used by nurse practitioners a majority of the time. As nurse practitioners become familiar with and use all the behaviors that influence compliance, they can design individualized treatment plans that will allow for increased patient compliance with medication regimens.
authors.affiliation: Primary Health Care Nursing Program, Simmons College, Boston.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Kolton
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Piccolo
mesh_terms: D001519:Behavior; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires