Five classes of compliance-related assessments

1. Health outcome indicators:

· blood pressure

· survival

· hospitalization

· dental outcome

· pain

· asthma severity

· relapse

· ear infection

2. Direct measures of compliance:

· blood glucose

· urine tracers

· cholesterol

· body fat or weight change

3. Indirect measures of compliance:

· pill count

· prescription refills

· use of mechanical or electronic monitors of pill or drug use

4. Subjective measures of compliance:

· patients' self-reports

· others' reports of compliance

· chart review

5. Utilization indicators of compliance:

· appointment making

· appointment keeping

· participation in or utilization of preventive services