Define noncompliance.

• A. Also called nonadherence; assumes that the patient is never educated.
• B. Occurs when patient forgets to take medication.
• C. Also called nonadherence; assumes that the patient was properly educated but made the decision not to take the medication.
• D. Only relates to financial resources.

Answer: (C)

Noncompliance means the patient, after being properly educated about the therapy, decides not to take the prescribed medication. It is the act of not following the regimen by choice, highlighting patient autonomy. This term is often used interchangeably with nonadherence. It isn’t only about forgetting doses or about financial barriers; those are contributing factors to nonadherence, but the definition here centers on a deliberate decision not to take the medication despite adequate education.