CLINICAL ETHICS

From compliance to concordance in diabetes

J S Chatterjee

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
MrJustin Sanjay Chatterjee MRCSEd
MRCS(Glasg), 42 Badger Park, Broxburn, Edinburgh, West Lothian, Scotland, EH52 5GZ, UK; justinchatterjee{at}aol.com

Compliance is a key concept in health care and affects all areas of health care including diabetes. Non-compliance has previously been a label attached to many patients without much thought having been given to the causes of poor compliance. Over the last few decades there has been a large volume of research focusing on compliance that has exposed the multitude of factors affecting compliance. Even the definition is not clear cut and so comparability between studies is not without difficulties. A better understanding of the factors affecting compliance, including the doctor/patient relationship, has allowed the evolution of "concordance". Concordance views the patient as being the equal of the healthcare provider and as having a right to make informed decisions. In a condition such as diabetes, which has many potential long term complications, it is vital that concordance is embraced in the healthcare system in order to improve care.

Keywords: compliance; concordance; diabetes

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This article has been cited by other articles:

• Chisholm-Burns, M. A., Spivey, C. A. (2008). Pharmacoadherence: A new term for a significant problem. Am J Health Syst Pharm 65: 661-667 [Full Text]