It used to be called incompatibility and the patients themselves were described as difficult . However, regardless of the terminology, children's reluctance to adhere to prescribed treatment regimens or failure to do so reduces the effectiveness of treatment, often leading to additional care, higher costs and serious and even fatal complications.
Reflecting a single authoritative voice, the second edition of the Adherence to Pediatric Medical Scimens examines in detail the clinical factors that influence children and adolescents' engagement with treatment - from developmental problems to the influence of parents, peers and others in their orbit - and offers empirically sound guidance on encouraging adherence. Critical areas of interest to paediatric clinicians and researchers are clearly outlined in the book:
- It provides an overview of adherence rates for chronic and acute disease management and explores common problems with adherence to treatment recommendations in children and adolescents.
- Lists the consequences of non-adherence and correlates of adherence.
- Critiques the main theories of adherence and their clinical implications.
- Discusses the scope of measures to assess adherence to recommendations.
- Reviews educational, behavioural and other strategies to improve adherence.
- It offers ways to translate research into adherence to medical recommendations in children.