What is the Difference Between Adherence and Compliance?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The terms "adherence" and "compliance" are often used interchangeably in the medical context, but they have distinct differences:
- Adherence is an active choice made by patients to follow through with the prescribed treatment, taking responsibility for their own well-being. It involves a proactive behavior that results in a lifestyle change, such as following a daily regimen of taking medications or engaging in specific activities.
- Compliance, on the other hand, is a passive behavior where patients simply follow a list of instructions given by their doctor or healthcare provider. This may include taking medications as prescribed or adhering to a specific diet or lifestyle change.
In summary, adherence is a more proactive and personalized approach taken by patients to manage their health, while compliance is a passive following of instructions provided by healthcare professionals. Understanding the difference between these two concepts can help healthcare providers better support and encourage patients to engage in their treatment plans effectively.
Comparative Table: Adherence vs Compliance
Here is a table comparing the differences between adherence and compliance:
| Adherence | Compliance |
|---|---|
| Active process in which a patient takes responsibility for their overall well-being | Passive behavior in which a patient follows a list of instructions from a provider |
| Results in a lifestyle change by the patient, who must follow a daily regimen, such as taking medications every day or doing exercise daily | Involves conformity to treatment or medication, following prescriber's directives |
| Focuses on the patient's proactive behavior and commitment to their treatment plan | Focuses on the patient's behavior matching the prescriber's directives, with the provider's intent in mind |
| Adherence is the preferred term because it aligns with mutually agreeable clinical decisions | Compliance is the older term and considers the provider's intent, assigning blame to patients who are noncompliant |
In summary, adherence emphasizes the patient's active engagement and commitment to their treatment plan, while compliance focuses on the patient's passive following of prescriber's directives. The term "adherence" is more commonly used and preferred in modern healthcare settings because it aligns with mutually agreeable clinical decisions and emphasizes patient responsibility.
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