Why some patients don't take their medicine

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Trusting your doctor is a big factor in whether you take prescribed medication, says a new study.
Non-compliance with medication can be a serious issue - because the patient might miss out on treatment they really need to have. Researchers at the University of Michigan Health System and the Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare Center have been looking at the factors which prevent patients from taking their pills.

The survey of 912 patients with diabetes underlines the importance of the doctor-patient relationship. Nearly 30 per cent of those who said they had low levels of trust in their doctors skipped their medication due to cost. But only 11 per cent of those who did trust their doctor missed out on medication, even at the same cost level. Also, those reporting symptoms of depression were twice as likely to be non-compliant as those who were not depressed. The findings suggest the importance of doctors talking to patients about their medication and trying to foster a high level of trust. In particular, they must try to find out if cost is an issue. Depression, which can lead to people feeling hopeless about their medical condition, also needs to be addressed.

Source
Archives of Internal Medicine August 8 2005