Patient compliance and medication perception.

The problem of patient/client noncompliance with regimens of prescribed medication is addressed, with attention to the incidence and illogical nature of this behavior. The psychological theory of cognitive dissonance is suggested as appropriate to an understanding of some aspects of noncompliance because medicinal preparations represent stimuli that are not necessarily neutral. A medication's perceptual properties may have important and specific meanings for patients or clients that may support or detract from compliance. Recent research and empirical evidence that reflects on this concept are reviewed. With further efforts, it may be possible to enhance compliance through perceptual engineering.