Aim — to assess how patients with chronic venous disease comply with recommendations on purchasing and wearing of compression stockings. Material and methods. We conducted prospective observational study on patients with chronic venous disease who were recommended to wear compression stockings. One month after prescription patients were phoned and asked if they followed recommendations or not. 867 patients were contacted and completed the survey. Results. During the first month after prescription 601 (69%) patients purchased compression stockings. Those 119 (45%) who did not purchase answered that the reasons were high cost of stockings, absence of a proper size at visiting a special stores etc. 26 (10%) of those who did not purchase stockings answered that they believe they did not need compression at all. More than half, i.e. 339/56% patients, purchased exactly the same stockings that were prescribed by specialist. Vast majority of purchasers have used stockings at the moment of surveying (507 of 601, 84%). Of them 484 (96%) followed recommended compression regime. Conclusions. The majority of patients with chronic venous disease whom compression stockings were prescribed purchased it and followed the recommended regime of wearing.