Factors Affecting Patient Adherence to Treatment
Classified in Medicine & Health
Written at on 
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Barlow and Ourand
21 year old who would think the worst whenever minor symptoms were experienced
Common Features Showed
- fear of aging and death
- presenting medical records in great detail
- especially concerned with one organ system
Factors that May Help Develop This
- serious illness in childhood
- past diseases in family members
- psychological stressors
- highly sensitive to pain
Possible Ways Patients May Not Adhere Properly
Before Treatment: poor description of treatment / lack of awareness
During Treatment: take +/- of a medicine / take at different time / not complete instructions
After Treatment: may end earlier / may fall back to certain behaviors
Why Patients May Not Adhere
Patients: decide don't need treatment / doesn't understand treatment / demographic factors
Treatment: expensive / time consuming / access isn't easy
Health Care Provider: doctor doesn't stress importance / doesn't give enough details
Why is Adherence a Problem
studies showed half of the patients with chronic illness such as diabetes or hypertension are non-compliant with regimen
Sackett 1976
- 50% of patients in America didn't take prescribed meds as told
- when compliance means giving up habits and going against motives, compliance is worst
Mckenny 1973 Hypertension
- 50 patients for 7 months after detection of high blood pressure only 50-70% sought treatment
- only 65% of pills were taken
- only 20% of patients took 90% of pills
- 33% of those sought treatment dropped
Becker 1972
- looked at whether a prescribed antibiotic was being taken halfway through a 10-day treatment program in young children
- over 50% of mothers had stopped giving meds
Why Patients Don't Adhere
rational choice theory (not adhere for a good reason)
- believe treatment isn't working
- side effects are unpleasant or affect the quality of lives
- there are practical barriers to the treatment such as cost or social difficulties