BMJ  2003;327 (11 October), doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7419.0-a

Chronically ill patients are ambivalent about drug taking

Despite drugs being a central part of their lives, patients with chronic illness express wide ambivalence about drug taking. In a qualitative study with 23 middle aged men and women with multiple chronic health problems, Townsend and colleagues (p 837) describe the tensions and ambiguities that are experienced with complex drug regimens. They found that patients self regulated aspects of their medication in order to gain relief from symptoms and to assert control over their health. Drugs acted both as a marker of illness and of an inability to perform valued social roles, but they also enabled patients to live as normal a life as possible. In an accompanying commentary Britten (p 840) emphasises how patients' and prescribers' priorities are often different, and that patients' perspectives must be considered when attempting to optimise compliance.

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