Medication adherence: Factors influencing compliance with prescribed medication plans

Adherence to medical therapy (the extent to which recommendations are followed as defined) is a complex and dynamic behavioral process that is strongly influenced by the patient, his or her support environment, practices of health care providers, and the characteristics of care delivery systems.1 Adherence, formerly referred to as compliance, is a patient-centered term. It suggests that patients carry out and maintain certain behaviors, such as taking medications, after making an informed choice in a supportive environment.