Compliance strategies.

Results of treatment in clinical practice and in randomized trials are usually improved when patients actually take their medications as prescribed. This is particularly important in chronic diseases such as hypertension and renal impairment, in which specific, recurrent, troubling symptoms are unlikely to be remedied with therapy. Compliance with medication often parallels appointment adherence, which also improves long-term outcomes. Factors that improve compliance include culturally sensitive patient education and attitude about the disease undergoing treatment; patient-specific reminders (eg, computed medication reminders and charts); medical regimens that minimize the frequency, inconvenience, and number of pills taken; and positive physician attitude regarding therapy.