Abstract

The single most important public health problem facing physicians today may be the failure of patients to follow their prescribed treatment regimens, a phenomenon that results in treatment failures, increased morbidity and mortality and enormous burdens to society and the economy. As is the case with many chronic diseases, the problem of adherence to therapy has emerged as a significant challenge to the successful management of osteoporosis. Despite the availability of effective, well-tolerated drugs for osteoporosis, fracture rates remain high, due in part to poor compliance and persistence with medication.