ABSTRACT
Strategies to measure and enhance adherence to treatment regimens have received
increasing prominence as biomedical science and technology have developed inter-
ventions deemed worthy to be followed. It has long been assumed that patient
nonadherence to prescribed treatment regimens seriously undermines the effectiveness of
interventions in both preventive and curative situations and results in unnecessary
morbidity, mortality, and cost. For pediatric chronic health conditions, symptom
management rather than cure is the potentially achievable goal of treatment (Varni, 1983;
Wallander & Varni, 1998). However, symptom management typically requires extensive
family involvement and patient selfmanagement over extended periods, often for life
(Varni & Wallander, 1984). Given the complexities and duration of most pediatric
chronic health conditions, the prevalence of nonadherence is significant, and the
impact of nonadherence can have direct effects on the management of patient symptoms.
