{"id":4824,"date":"2022-05-31T15:13:52","date_gmt":"2022-05-31T20:13:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cooking2thrive.com\/blog\/?p=4824"},"modified":"2022-05-31T15:13:54","modified_gmt":"2022-05-31T20:13:54","slug":"adherence-vs-compliance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cooking2thrive.com\/blog\/adherence-vs-compliance\/","title":{"rendered":"Adherence vs Compliance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Is adherence\nbetter than compliance? I recently saw a doctor tweet a list of words he hates\nto read in patient charts. One of those words was compliant. He indicated\nadherent was superior, always. I\u2019ve been thinking about that in light of the\ndifficulty many of us have in complying with medical advice \u2013 including specialized\ndiets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I know, it may\nseem like semantics. But maybe in this case semantics matter. And I think this\ndoctor makes an important point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To get the greatest\nbenefit from medical advice, patients need to adhere to plans developed by\ntheir medical team and agreed to by them. But I\u2019ve most often heard this\ndescribed as compliance, not adherence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why does this distinction matter?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the strictest\ndefinitional sense, compliance means acquiescing or yielding, especially in a\nweak or subservient way. I don\u2019t want to feel weak or subservient when it comes\nto decisions about my health. I\u2019m pretty sure no one does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I strongly believe in patient-centered care<\/a>. In such a system, the patient is a valued part of their medical team. I\u2019m not sure you can feel valued as part of the team when are related to by medical professionals as though you are, or should be, weak and subservient. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And let\u2019s be\nhonest, many times there\u2019s pressure from medical professionals for patients and\nfamilies to behave in a subservient way. If they do not, they may receive dismissive\nor condescending treatment. When this happens, it seems predictable that\npatients will tire of such treatment and rebel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If a doctor talks\ndown to, bristles at questions, fails to explain, or refuses to listen to\npatients, that physician is not going to be as likely to get a buy-in on a\nprescribed health plan. If that professional perceives there is pushback and\nrelies on a position of superiority to attempt to enforce compliance, the\npatient will rebel even more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And why not?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our lower\nbrains may perceive this kind of pressure as danger. When that happens, the\npatient must try to somehow twist their being into compliance while feeling they\ncould be in danger. And the feeling of danger is exacerbated by a constant\nbarrage of advertising pushing medications and health screenings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Essentially,\nwe\u2019re asking people to do something very difficult to do. Intellect may not\nintercept the lower brains signals on a conscious level leaving behavior to be\nguided by survival instinct or reflex. Of course this won\u2019t be true in every\ncase. But it may be true often enough that we could improve adherence just by changing\nour rhetoric.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adhering\nconnotes steady devotion, allegiance, and attachment. In other words, if I\nchoose to adhere to something, I embrace it. That sounds like the relationship\nI want when it comes to my health. I hope to embrace a plan that I perceive as the\nhealthiest for me in any given moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adherence\nplaces the patient back in a position of power in charge of their health. It is\nwillingly given and does not require pushing at all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why not\nchange our approach to seek adherence? When we treat patients in a manner that\nencourages them to embrace a plan, there will be no need for pushing, cajoling,\nshaming, or arm twisting them into compliance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Could such a subtle shift make a difference?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s no\nway to really know until we try it. But if one physician has recognized the\nbenefit, I\u2019m guessing there are others. And if we as patients push for this\nchange, we may get more palatable healthcare. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I feel like eating plans tailored\nto the needs of an individual and presented respectfully will make many dietary\nrecommendations less objectionable and easier to embrace. That will take us a\nlong way toward adherence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some may determine that adherence\nvs compliance is a bit potayto, potahto. I disagree. I feel like a shift toward\nadherence is just the shift we need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Preparation for Healing: What is Readiness?<\/a><\/blockquote>