Which strategy might a nurse use to increase compliance with education?

Research consistently shows that client and family engagement is one of the most effective strategies for improving health education compliance. When clients and families are included as active partners in the educational process — setting goals, asking questions, and participating in decision-making — they are more motivated, more likely to understand the relevance of the information, and more committed to following through. This approach aligns with patient-centered care principles and supports adult learning theory, which recognizes that adults learn best when they feel respected and see personal relevance. Providing verbal instruction at all times is ineffective because people retain information through multiple modalities (visual, kinesthetic, written), and relying solely on verbal teaching reduces comprehension and recall. Using short, simple sentences may be appropriate for some populations, such as low-literacy clients or young children, but applying this universally for all ages is inappropriate and can feel condescending to educated adults. Maintaining a clear role as the authority undermines a collaborative partnership, decreases trust, and can inhibit clients from asking questions or admitting confusion — all of which reduce compliance. The most broadly effective and evidence-based strategy is therefore to include the client and family as partners throughout the education process.