Abstract
BackgroundAdherence in chronic disease conditions is described as the extent to which a person‘s behaviour corresponds to the prescribed medical advice of the healthcare provider. This is not limited to medication intake only but also includes acts such as following instructions regarding dietary or fluid restrictions and taking medicines at the prescribed times and intervals. Although adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a predictor of good clinical outcome among HIV-infected persons on ART, it is a major challenge and strict adherence is not very common. This article aims to examine the application and relevance of some cognitive-behavioural theories in antiretroviral therapy adherenceMethodsAfter doing a thorough literature review, contemporary theories of health behaviour at the individual and interpersonal levels referred to as cognitive-behavioural theories were explored. This review highlights some aspects of the cognitive perspective of health behaviour theories as a good theoretical framework that could be used for organising thoughts about adherence and other health behaviours among patients on lifelong treatment such as ART.ResultsKey concepts of these theories stipulate that behaviour is mediated by cognition i.e. knowledge and attitude affect the person’s action. In addition, cognitive-behavioural theories recognise knowledge alone as being insufficient to produce behavioural change; a person’s perception, motivation, skills and social environment are all influential in the process of behavioural change.ConclusionPrediction of medication adherence is complex, and health-related knowledge and beliefs alone are insufficient to achieve behaviour change, especially in chronic conditions such as HIV/AIDS. However, people can control or influence the events affecting their lives by integrating cognitive, social, and behavioural sub-skills related to beliefs of personal efficacy in performing these skills.
Highlights
The cognitive perspective on health behaviour is based upon the assumption that our thoughts and beliefs influence our emotions and behaviour
Individual level theories explore behaviour and focus on intrapersonal factors such as knowledge, attitude, beliefs, motivation, self-concept, past experience and skills;[2] at the interpersonal level, theories of health behaviour take into consideration that an individual exists within a society and is influenced by the social environment
This serves as an opportunity for patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) to improve their knowledge about the disease condition, gain better understanding of the role of medications and have any misconceptions harboured about their medications clarified.[20]
Summary
Adherence in chronic disease conditions is described as the extent to which a person‘s behaviour corresponds to the prescribed medical advice of the healthcare provider. This is not limited to medication intake only and includes acts such as following instructions regarding dietary or fluid restrictions and taking medicines at the prescribed times and intervals. Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a predictor of good clinical outcome among HIV-infected persons on ART, it is a major challenge and strict adherence is not very common. This article aims to examine the application and relevance of some cognitivebehavioural theories in antiretroviral therapy adherence
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