OBJECTIVES: To assess the extension in which the participation of a patient in a support program contributes with increased osteoporosis treatment compliance. Trials demonstrated that the compliance rates to oral bisphosphonates therapy present a significant drop along the first year of treatment and continue declining year after year. The objective of a support program is to provide patient's support providing information about the disease, to interchange experiences with other patients, provide high calcium content nutrition tips and proper physical activities. METHODS: Quantitative study conducted through personal and individual interviews using a structured questionnaire. Two hundred and twenty interviews were conducted with female patients that concluded the bisphosphonate treatment, divided in two groups: one hundred-two registered and one hundred and eighteen non-registered into a support program. RESULTS: The average treatment period with bisphosphonate between the patients registered in the program is of 11 months vs. 4 months for non-registered patients. The main causes of impact on the continuous use of bisphosphonate of the patients non-registered in a support program include the treatment side effects (28% vs. 11%; p <0.002). From the total of patients interrupting the intake of bisphosphonate due to side effects the largest number are due to gastric problems. However, the patients registered in a support program reach the treatment final (34% vs. 15%; p <0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The patients registered in a support program present the tendency to follow the prescription and remain for a longer time period in the therapy. It is perceived that when the patients has access to wider information about the disease, which is one of the main objectives of a treatment support program, the therapy discontinuation rate due to side effects is lower. Because the patients are aware about the occurrence of gastric issues, they properly follow the guidelines, avoiding them and reaching the treatment final.