Medication: reasons and interventions for noncompliance.

1. There is a strong correlation between medication noncompliance and higher rates of illness relapse. The causes of noncompliance include side effects, knowledge deficits, and patient/therapist relationships. 2. The nurse's ongoing assessment and understanding of the patients' reasons for treatment resistance is the key to promoting medication compliance. 3. Because compliance requires patients' complete understanding of their illness and their need for medication treatment, patient education is the initial intervention in promoting medication adherence. 4. The patient must no longer be viewed as the guilty party. The promotion of medication compliance must be the responsibility of both the health care professional and the patient.