What’s in a name?
When researching issues relating to medication compliance, to ensure I capture all relevant studies, I find myself having to type the following into the relevant search engine: “compliance OR adherence OR concordance“. I find this incredibly frustrating, and not just because it takes me a long time. Supposedly, the evolution of the concept of compliance to adherence to concordance is the semantic equivalent of kicking paternalistic healthcare provision squarely in the balls. But is it? Can a lexiconic adjustment really represent a tangible step forward in patient empowerment? Or, as I suspect, is it a ploy to suggest progress where there is little?
Answers on the back of a postcard, please.
So, why this entry now? I was reminded of my frustration at this issue by th
at I experienced in response to the government’s long-expected and recently-announced decision to reclassify cannabis as a Class B drug. A monumental U-turn, that flies in the face of expert advice. Could the time, effort, and money spent on tinkering with this (more-or-less) arbitrary classification not be put to more useful ends, like a public health campaign highlighting the dangers associated with cannabis use? Don’t bother with the postcards, the answer is: yes.