Strategies to improve compliance with therapy.

The failure of patients to comply with their therapeutic regimen has an extensive impact on the costs and strategies of medical care. Compliance with long-term regimens can be improved by linking the timing of the medication to existing daily habits, reducing the number of times that a medication is to be taken each day, and identifying the side effects that a patient attributes to the treatment. In addition, providing written instructions, shortening the duration of therapy, and periodically evaluating compliance by determining drug serum levels can reduce non-compliant behavior. The establishment of a strong patient/physician relationship is central to long-term therapeutic success.