Compliance failure and counselling in paediatric drug therapy.

Compliance-failure with expected drug therapy was recognised at interview in 56 percent of non-counselled and 24 percent of counselled paediatric patients returning to medical out-patient clinic at Princess Mary Hospital. Default from prescribed treatment was more common in Polynesians than caucasians and more often due to patient error than non-compliance. Drug counselling was more effective in minimising compliance-failure due to patient error than non-compliance. Failure to take drugs as intended was due to doctor generated causes in 8 percent of patients.