Factors
that can keep you from following your Treatment
Plan:
There are
a number of variables that may prevent you
from complying with your treatment plan.
Can you identify with any of the factors
from the following lists that may be interfering
with your ability to comply with your treatment?
Do
you …
- have difficulty understanding your treatment
regimen or instructions?
- forget to take your medication?
- have a hard time accepting that you
are ill or in need of medication?
- lack the social or family support or
financial resources to follow your treatment
plan?
- feel apathetic or pessimistic toward
your treatment of condition?
- experience conditions (e.g. confusion)
that affect your ability to take medications
properly?
- have bothersome symptoms?
- see an improvement in or disappearance
of your symptoms?
Despite taking
your medications regularly, you may continue
to experience some limitations in the amount
or types of activities that you used to
do. Ironically, impatience with the gradual
progress and improvement of your condition
from treatment may prompt you to disregard
your medication regimen. Alternatively,
you may develop a belief that you are healthy
because your symptoms have improved or disappeared
or you have adapted to your symptoms. This
could also lead you to the belief that you
do not need to follow your treatment plan
or take your medications.
Are
you …
- uncertain about the effectiveness of
your treatment?
- concerned about possible side effects
of your medication?
- worried about the inconvenience or expenses
of your treatment and/or medications?
- feeling that you lack adequate supervision
or guidance by your doctor?
- feeling confused by a complex and or
lengthy treatment?
One common
factor leading to noncompliance is the complexity
of the treatment regimen. Multiple medications,
say in heart problems, are often prescribed
to treat various heart conditions. This
may lead to confusion regarding proper dosages
and scheduling.
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