noncompliance (redirected from noncompliant)

noncompliance [non″kom-pli´ans]

1. failure or refusal to conform to or follow rules, regulations, or the advice or wishes of another.

2. a nursing diagnosis approved by the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association, defined as a behavior of person and/or caregiver that fails to coincide with a health-promoting or therapeutic plan agreed on by the person (and/or family or community) and the health care professional. In the presence of an agreed-on, health-promoting or therapeutic plan, the person's or caregiver's behavior is fully or partially nonadherent and may lead to clinically ineffective or only partially effective outcomes.

The cause or causes may be difficult to ascertain. The patient/client may have values and beliefs about health that are different from those of the health care provider, or there may be other conflicts in their relationship that work against following the advice offered. In some cases the patient/client may not have the financial resources, family support, physical ability, or emotional stability to perform the prescribed tasks. Poor self-esteem, negative side effects of drugs and other forms of treatment, and lack of progress after adhering to the prescribed regimen can also lead to noncompliance. Since it is assumed that the individual has sufficient knowledge to make an informed decision, lack of knowledge is not considered a likely cause of failure to comply. The nurse also should be aware that the patient/client may have the necessary knowledge and resources but have made an autonomous decision not to comply.

Statements by the patient/client or family member, direct observation of patient/client behaviors, objective measurement of physiologic signs, failure to record self-care activities or to keep appointments, and development of preventable complications are all characteristics indicative of noncompliance. Nursing interventions to improve compliance might include more extensive assessment activities to determine the reason for noncompliance, involving the patient/client in goal-setting, improving the nurse-patient relationship and interaction, and identifying alternative therapies that are more acceptable to the patient/client.

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noncompliance

failure of the owner to follow instructions, particularly in administering medication as prescribed; a cause of a less than expected response to treatment.

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noncompliance

Medtalk The disregarding of a prescribed treatment plan; the degree to which Pt does not adhere to a prescribed diet or treatment, and whether the Pt returns for re-examination, followup or treatment. See Bad patient, Directly observed therapy. Cf Compliance.