title: Patient motivation.
abstract: This paper addresses the important issue of patient motivation. Research indicates that non-compliance is a major problem for healthcare professionals, with between a third and a half of all patients failing to comply with recommended healthcare instructions. The paper outlines some of the misconceptions associated with motivation and discusses six factors, together with some brief additional factors, which it is hoped will contribute to a deeper understanding of the subject and the improved dental health of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dental Surgery, Guy's, King's and St Thomas', School of Dentistry, Guy's Hospital, London.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Barker
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D003729:Dental Care / Q000523:psychology*; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D006801:Humans; D009042:Motivation; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires