What is 'patient compliance'?

Patient compliance refers to the degree to which a patient adheres to the prescribed medical advice, including medication regimens, lifestyle changes, and follow-up appointments. This concept is crucial in healthcare because effective treatment often depends on patients taking medications as directed and making necessary lifestyle adjustments. High levels of patient compliance can lead to improved health outcomes, while non-compliance may result in treatment failure and complications.

Understanding patient compliance goes beyond just taking medications; it encompasses the overall willingness and ability of a patient to follow recommendations made by healthcare providers. This can include understanding the importance of the treatment, managing side effects, and maintaining communication with the healthcare team. Compliance is often influenced by factors such as patient education, socioeconomic status, psychological factors, and the quality of the provider-patient relationship.

The other options do not fully encapsulate the concept of patient compliance. Negotiating medication costs, medication refill frequency, and memory related to doses may play roles in a patient’s treatment experience, but they do not define compliance itself.