How do primary care residents manage patient non-adherence?

Managing patient non-adherence to prescribed regimens is a daunting challenge for the clinician. Although a variety of adherence management techniques have been proposed, we know little about what approaches are currently used in practice. This project studied adherence management techniques of 25 family medicine and internal medicine residents. We videotaped a 10 minute interview between the resident and a simulated patient with uncontrolled essential hypertension. We analyzed the videotapes using quantitative and qualitative methods and found the residents employed a variety of heterogeneous, unsystematic, and possibly ineffective compliance management techniques.