WORKING WITH PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH TREATMENT RECOMMENDATIONS

Non-adherence to therapeutic recommendations works against the efforts made by the health system, its staff, decision-makers, to improve the health of the population. It causes medical and psychological complications, deterioration of patients' quality of life, increases the likelihood of drug resistance, is a waste of public resources, and destroys public trust and the credibility of healthcare systems. Some of these factors are patient-dependent, some are drug-dependent, some are health professionals-dependent. E.g. low socioeconomic status is a patient-related factor negatively affecting adherence, and side effects of drug therapy are therapy-related. With such complex interrelationships of factors influencing medication adherence, it is necessary to support patients rather than blame them.