We present the results of a survey on adherence to therapeutic recommendations by Polish patients (compliance). The study was carried out by the Pentor Research International research agency, commissioned by the Foundation to Support the Development of Polish Pharmacy and Medicine. The report also contains the preliminary conclusions of Przemysław Kardas, MD, PhD, of the Medical University of Łódź, coordinator of research conducted as part of the EU-funded ABC project ('Assessment of Barriers to Adherence to Therapeutic Recommendations to Achieve Safe, Effective and Cost-Effective Use of Medicines in Europe'). In addition, Professors Zbigniew Gaciong from the Medical University of Warsaw and Piotr Kuna from the Medical University of Łódź present how the scientific world is trying to tackle the problem of compliance. It is worth emphasising that the Foundation was the first institution in Poland to take a comprehensive interest in the problem of compliance, both from the scientific side - by funding a competition for a research project in this field - and from the social side - with surveys of public opinion (Pentor). An in-depth analysis of the results of the research conducted should indicate the direction of actions to be taken in order to reduce the phenomenon of lack of regularity of treatment in accordance with medical indications. In our opinion, it is certainly worth considering changes to the training programme of medical students and graduates in the art of communication, motivation, and negotiation with a chronically ill patient. A good doctor-patient relationship translates into a degree of trust between the patient and the doctor. And research has identified trust as a factor that strongly motivates a patient to receive systematic treatment.
Management Board of the Foundation for the Support of the Development of Polish Pharmacy and Medicine
