Gold DT, McClung B, et al.
The American journal of medicine. Date of publication 2006 Apr 1;volume 119(4 Suppl 1):S32-7.
1. Am J Med. 2006 Apr;119(4 Suppl 1):S32-7.
Approaches to patient education: emphasizing the long-term value of compliance
and persistence.
Gold DT(1), McClung B.
Author information:
(1)Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Science, Sociology, and Psychology, Duke
University Medical Center, Durham 27710, North Carolina, USA. dtg@geri.duke.edu
Approximately 50% of patients with chronic disease do not obtain optimal clinical
benefit from treatment because of poor compliance with medication regimens. Lack
of compliance is associated with poor clinical outcomes, increased
hospitalizations, lower quality of life, and higher overall healthcare costs.
Although poor compliance and persistence are common across many disease states,
they may be particularly poor in treatment for asymptomatic chronic diseases such
as osteoporosis. Patient education has been demonstrated to significantly improve
compliance with medication across a broad range of conditions and disease
severities. In a study in which patients received educational materials, referral
for bone densitometry, and physician consultation, 67% were compliant with
treatment after 6 months. Patient satisfaction with treatment has been linked to
compliance with therapy; by improving patient care through fulfilling
expectations for physician visits and providing frequent feedback, the healthcare
provider can dramatically improve compliance. Self-management programs focusing
on day-to-day management of chronic diseases have been shown to significantly
improve heath behaviors and health status. Regardless of the strategy used,
attention must be directed to identifying the patients least likely to persist
with treatment and to providing the education and support these patients need to
adhere to osteoporosis therapy.
DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2005.12.021
PMID: 16563940 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
