Abstract
The Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Consultation Model for Adherence conceptualises the consultation process specific to patient adherence. It can be used to improve patient persistence with treatment by TCM practitioners and possibly other health professionals. The aim of this research was to determine the applicability of the TCM Consultation Model for Adherence in the wider complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) setting. A survey containing validated questionnaires and items developed specifically to test the model was administered online in the United Kingdom. SPSS 25 was used to perform Spearman's correlations and Mann–Whitney U tests on the data. In total, 101 patients completed the survey. The results showed that patients having a therapeutic relationship and trusting in their practitioner was associated with overall adherence to CAM, while patients feeling supported was associated with all types of adherence to CAM. Specific behaviours of the TCM Consultation Model for Adherence that were positively correlated with adherence to CAM were identified. They could potentially be used by CAM practitioners to improve their patients' adherence with treatment.
Highlights
Adherence is the similarity between the actions of a patient and the advice offered by their health professional, which was agreed upon together for implementation [1]
Nonadherence is an issue in healthcare that affects all types of medicine prescribed for chronic conditions [1, 2]. e adherence rate is reported to be 50% for both conventional medicine and herbs or remedies in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) [1, 2]. e consequence of inadequate adherence is poorer patient health [1]
Participants predominantly worked in the human health and social work activities industry (42.6%). e highest proportion was comprised of CAM therapists (28.7%)
Summary
Adherence is the similarity between the actions of a patient and the advice offered by their health professional, which was agreed upon together for implementation [1]. Ere is a plethora of models for understanding adherence and for the consultation, yet only one that describes how factors in the consultation affect patient adherence with treatment: the TCM Consultation Model for Adherence [3]. It is grounded in observations and qualitative interview data [3]. The model emerged from within one CAM setting, it could prove useful for other CAM practitioners as a guide to increase patient adherence with the treatments they prescribe [3]. Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue Multiple General health and wellbeing Factors influencing health status and contact with health services Symptoms, signs, and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified Treatment modality Mental, behavioral, and neurodevelopmental disorders Diseases of the nervous system Injury, poisoning, and certain other consequences of external causes Neoplasms Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases Diseases of the respiratory system Diseases of the digestive system Diseases of the genitourinary system Diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs and certain disorders involving the immune mechanism Diseases of the circulatory system External causes of morbidity Duration of days the therapist was seen [median (range)]
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