Improving medication compliance: a review of selected issues.

The impact of various factors on patient compliance with prescribed therapy was determined from a review of the relevant literature. Complexity of treatment regimen was found to be directly related to noncompliance as well as to increased use of health-care services. Accordingly, physicians, pharmacists, and health-care administrators are urged to develop formulary recommendations in light of potential effects on patient well-being and aggregate health-care expenditures. The development of institutional initiatives (clinical protocols) for pharmaceuticals are also urged, to give physicians greater access to therapeutic options with which to reduce patients' regimen complexity. Finally, the adoption of a team-management approach in the treatment of chronic disease and the implementation of interactive health-education programs, such as pharmacy-based medication utilization review, are advocated, as measures that have been shown to increase both the continuity and quality of patient care.