Objective: to explore the factors that influence the adherence of adult patients to peritoneal dialysis, the measurement of it and the consequences of nonadherence reported in the literature. Methodology: consult descriptors in health sciences (DeCS), adherence, terminal renal failure, peritoneal dialysis and self-care, with the Boolean search engine AND. 50 articles were found, 40 in Spanish, nine in English and one in Portuguese, published between 1995 and 2013; the methodology of the Critical Appraisal Skills Program Spain (CASPe) and the theoretical-practical guide on construction of states of art by Consuelo Hoyos were used. Results and conclusions: the factors that influence are related to individual characteristics, social aspects, therapeutic equipment and support networks. Clinical parameters (interdialitic weight gain and episodes of peritonitis) and biochemical parameters (hyperkalemia, elevation of urea nitrogen and creatinine) have been used as indicators to measure adherence, in addition to the Morisky Green tests, the therapeutic adherence scale for patients with chronic diseases based on explicit behaviors (EAT) and the visual analog scale (VAS). In nursing, adherence is relevant and is included in the diagnostic, intervention and outcome measurement taxonomies. Abbreviations: CKD, chronic kidney disease; DP, peritoneal dialysis.