Why Patients Do Not Always Follow Doctor's Advice: Systems Approach Explains Empirical Observation

Authors

Griselda Acosta, The University of Texas at El PasoFollow
Eric SmithFollow
Vladik Kreinovich, The University of Texas at El PasoFollow

Publication Date

4-2019

Comments

Technical Report: UTEP-CS-19-41

Abstract

Empirical studies show that when a medical doctor prescribes a medicine, only two third of the patients fill the prescription, and of this filling-prescription group, only half follow the doctor's instructions when taking the medicine. In this paper, we show that a general systems approach -- namely, abstracting from the specifics of this situation -- helps explain these empirical observations. We also mention that systems approach can not only explains this problem, it can also help solve it -- i.e., it can help increase the patients' adherence to the doctors' recommendations.