Patient noncompliance with medical advice is of major concern to physicians. Although many do not consider compliance their responsibility, research studies indicate that physicians can control many of the variables influencing compliance. Physicians' verbal and nonverbal communication habits that convey directiveness, coldness, complexity, and inflexibility can be changed to improve patient compliance. Numerous studies on verbal and nonverbal communication between patients and physicians indicate three axioms: (1) the lower the physician's communication fidelity (interruptions, use of jargon), the higher the noncompliance of the patient; (2) the lower the physician's positive effect (whether the patient "likes" the physician), the higher the noncompliance of the patient; and (3) the lower the physician's credibility, the lower the patient's compliance. In light of the deleterious impact of low communication fidelity, relational affect, and perceived credibility on the issue of compliance, efforts must be made to alter the present state of affairs. Communication oriented coursework for medical students should be augmented to include intensive study in interpersonal communication. Hospitals should offer special workshops, where doctors could be shown the barriers they create during interaction with patients and which would have a positive impact on physicians' communication quality and style. (HTH)