Compliance with biologic agents: Current situation

Despite the fact that the prognosis of chronic inflammatory disorders is improved by biological agents, compliance with those therapeutics remains imperfect. Compliance corresponds to the measurable part of the follow-up of the medical prescription by the patient, whereas adherence is related to the acceptation of the treatment by the patient. The compliance rates of biologic agents are generally higher than those of conventional therapies. Compliance can be influenced by the real or experienced efficacity of the treatment, by patient-related factors or by the patient-physician relationship. An increase of compliance is associated with an improvement of adherence. To achieve this, the physician can use educational measures such as patient education, which allows the identification of poor adherence. Such programs have been shown to improve the patient's knowledge of the disease and treatment leading to better adherence and compliance. (C) 2021 SPLF. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Though biological agents have improved the prognosis of chronic inflammatory disorders, patient compliance with these treatments remains a challenge. Compliance is influenced by factors such as treatment efficacy, patient-related issues, and the patient-physician relationship. Educational measures, like patient education, have been shown to enhance patient knowledge, leading to better adherence and compliance.