Chapter Outlines

By the end of this chapter, you will:

  • Understand the terms ‘adherence’ and ‘compliance’ in health-related behaviour
  • Show an awareness of the assumptions underlying the term ‘compliance’
  • Show an awareness of the extent and character of treatment non-adherence and the issue of medical error
  • Understand the patient-centred formulation of health care that focuses on shared decision-making and patient empowerment