Psychology. 4: Take my advice!

The article considers the issue of compliance in the context of encouraging patients to follow advice given to them by nurses. Caution is expressed regarding the avoidance of coercion through the exertion of overt pressure or by more subtle means such as the socializing effects of becoming a patient. It is suggested that an effective and humanistic approach to the facilitation of compliance is through the empowerment of patients by nurses. This can be enhanced if strategies are based on comprehensive assessment. An eclectic level of analysis is used to show how compliance is mediated through personal, group and societal factors. A number of psychological research studies are reported to underpin recommendations as to how nurses might enhance the compliance of their patients in a range of care settings and applications.