Non-adherence to medication and doctor-patient relationship: Evidence from a European survey

Research into the determinants of non-adherence to medical advice has emphasised understanding the role of the doctor-patient relationship in the decision to adhere to advice. However, there is a lack of evidence on people's overall perceptions of doctors and their influence on their decision not to adhere to recommendations. The results show that doctors' perceptions provide a model that better explains non-adherence to prescribed medication. The findings confirm that the general beliefs people have about the doctor-patient relationship significantly influence their decision not to adhere to prescribed medication. Key points were shown to be involvement in the decision-making process, treating patients as equals and avoiding leaving problems unresolved when prescribing medication.