Focusing on the issue of adolescent compliance with medical regimens, the discussion defines compliance; reports on the incidence of noncompliance; discussed direct and indirect methods of measuring compliance; considers noncompliance as a diagnostic issue; reviews theoretical approaches to compliance research -- individualistic models, the health-belief model, and the provider-patient relationship; and examines adolescent compliance with oral contraceptives (OCs) and improving adolescent compliance with therapeutic regimens. Compliance has been defined as the extent to which an individual's behavior -- in terms of taking medications, following diets, or executing lifestyle changes -- coincides with medical or health advice. It has been reported that there is more noncompliance associated with longterm prescriptions than with those of shorter durations. The most common approach to the study of nonconforming health behavior has been to identify individual factors that are associated with various forms of noncompliance. Study finding suggest that despite the characteristics of the patient, the behavior of the health care provider can largely determine whether the adult patient will comply or not with medical advice. Further study will determine if adolescents behave similarly. Confirming previous reports, the findings suggest that the nature of the interaction between the health care provider and the patient, combined with the adolescent's sexual behavior and social psychological status, may influence how compliant she will be with her regimen. More ongoing research that will allow physicians to identify adolescents at risk of noncompliance so that appropriate intervention strategies may be employed is needed in this area. Strategies to increase the likelihood that adolescent patients will follow prescribed treatment regimens include: reminding the patient about the importance of compliance at each and every visit; improving the physician-patient relationship; and rewarding and reinforcing compliance.

作者：S, Jay；I F, Litt；R H, Durant

来源：Journal of adolescent health care : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine 1984 年 5卷 2期