Compliance (medicine) facts for kids

Compliance, also called adherence, is when a patient follows their doctor's advice. This includes taking medicines exactly as prescribed, like the right amount at the right time. It's super important for people with long-term health problems, often called chronic diseases. When patients stick to their treatment plan, it helps them get better and stay healthy.

What is Medical Compliance?

Medical compliance means doing what your doctor tells you to do for your health. Imagine your doctor gives you a special plan to help you feel better. Compliance is about following that plan carefully. This could be taking a pill every day, doing certain exercises, or changing what you eat. It's all about working with your healthcare team to manage your health.

Why is Compliance Important?

Following medical advice is very important, especially for chronic diseases. These are health problems that last a long time, like asthma or diabetes. If someone doesn't follow their treatment plan, their condition might get worse. For example, if a person with diabetes doesn't take their medicine, their blood sugar could become too high. This can lead to serious health issues.

The World Health Organization (WHO) found that many people with chronic diseases don't always follow their treatment plans. In 2003, they estimated that only about half of patients in developed countries followed their doctors' advice. This can make it harder to treat common conditions like asthma, diabetes, and hypertension (high blood pressure).

Challenges to Following Medical Advice

Sometimes, it can be hard for patients to follow their treatment plans. There are many reasons why this happens. It's not always because someone doesn't want to get better.

What Makes it Hard to Comply?

• Difficult Schedules: Some medicines need to be taken at very specific times or many times a day. It can be tough to remember all these doses.
• Side Effects: Medicines can sometimes cause unwanted effects, like feeling sick or tired. If a patient experiences these, they might stop taking the medicine.
• Cost: Some medicines are very expensive. Patients might not be able to afford them, even if they need them.
• Not Understanding: Patients might not fully understand why they need a certain medicine or how it helps them. If they don't see the benefit, they might not take it.
• Poor Communication: If a patient doesn't feel comfortable talking to their doctor, or if the doctor doesn't explain things clearly, it can be hard to follow instructions.
• Lack of Trust: Sometimes, patients might not trust their healthcare provider. This can make them less likely to follow advice.

How Can We Improve Compliance?

Healthcare providers and patients are working together to make it easier to follow medical advice. Here are some ways:

• Simpler Packaging: Making medicine packages easier to open and understand.
• Reminders: Using tools like phone apps or alarms to remind patients to take their medicine.
• Better Education: Doctors and nurses explaining clearly why a treatment is needed and how it works.
• Fewer Medicines: Sometimes, doctors try to prescribe fewer different medicines at once, if possible, to make it simpler.
• Open Communication: Encouraging patients to ask questions and share any concerns they have with their doctor.

See also

• In Spanish: Adherencia (medicina) para niños