patients should rate health and other benefits of statins as more important to them than the hassles and costs. If patients in the contemplation stage start a medication just because of pressure or persuasion from the physician, they will not be prepared to cope with the cons of compliance. One problem with pressure is that it is highly likely to decrease the further removed the patient is from the office visit. Given the delicate balance between the pros and cons, experience with side effects, costs, or hassles can throw contemplation into a negative balance with high risk for discontinuation.