Patient compliance: A concept analysis

Background: Patient compliance with regimens is one of the most researched and leastunderstood behavioral concerns in the healthcare profession due to the many meanings
employed in multidiscipline over time. Thus, a thorough examination of the idea of patient
compliance is necessary.
Objective: This paper aims to explore and identify the essence of the term patient compliance
to achieve an operational definition of the concept.
Method: Walker and Avant’s eight-step approach was used. A literature search was
conducted using keywords of patient compliance AND healthcare profession from five
databases: PubMed, Medline, CINAHL, ProQuest, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane database,
published from 1995 to 2022.
Results: The attributes of patient compliance include 1) self-care behavior, 2) following health
recommendations, and 3) willing collaboration with health professionals. Antecedents of
patient compliance were characteristics of therapeutic regimens, communication of health
advice, and patients’ attitudes toward professional recommendations. Consequences include
improved clinical outcomes, quality of life, and lifestyle or behavior modification.
Conclusion: This concept analysis offers a valuable perspective on patient compliance that
guides the nursing practice in providing better interventions to promote compliance among
patients