Predictors Of Nonadherence Research Articles

Respiratory rehabilitation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: predictors of nonadherence.

Rehabilitation is now an integral part of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) management. The objective of the study was to determine predictors of nonadherence to a COPD rehabilitation programme. Patients attending a COPD clinic were invited to participate in a 4 week, hospital-based, outpatient, COPD rehabilitation programme conducted predominantly by respiratory physiotherapists. All potential participants undertook an interviewer administered questionnaire addressing social, economic, psychological and healthcare factors, and underwent baseline physiological measures. Subsequently they were classified as: 1) "adherent" group who completed the total programme (n=55) or 2) "nonadherent" group who refused or began but did not complete the programme (n=36). The nonadherent group compared to the adherent group were more likely to be divorced (22 versus 2%, p<0.005), live alone (39 versus 14%, p<0.02), and to live in rented accommodation (31 versus 6%, p<0.005). There were no differences between the two groups in terms of baseline physiological parameters (forced expiratory volume in one second, forced vital capacity, 6-min walk distance, oxygen saturation, perceived dyspnoea), quality of life domains (Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire), or indices of COPD-related morbidity. The nonadherent group were more likely to be current smokers (28 versus 8%, p<0.02) and less likely to use inhaled corticosteroids (16 versus 42%, p<0.005). The nonadherent group was not significantly likely to be depressed, anxious, prone to hyperventilation or to have had previous emotional counselling and was more likely to be dissatisfied with disease-specific social support (51 versus 2%, p<0.001). In conclusion, a substantial proportion of eligible subjects who did not participate in a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease rehabilitation programme were not more physiologically impaired, but were more likely to be: socially isolated, lack chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-related social support, still be smoking and be less compliant with other healthcare activities. Identification of one or more of these factors reliably allows prediction for nonadherence to a rehabilitation programme.

The overestimation of adherence to pediatric medical regimens.

We evaluated the accuracy of primary health care providers' predictions of parents' adherence to their children's short-term antibiotic regimen and a scheduled follow-up appointment. Adherence predictions were compared with objective measures of the parents' adherence. Providers were poor predictors of nonadherence, greatly overestimating the percentage of parents who would be adherent. Nonadherence is typically addressed by applying adherence improvement strategies to all patients. Recent pediatric research, however, suggests that applying contingency-based interventions for adherent patients can result in later nonadherence if the strategies are withdrawn. Inaccurate predictions of adherence will result in many nonadherent patients not receiving a needed intervention. The results indicate the need for strong behavioral predictors that result in more accurate identification of patient nonadherence to guide further applications of adherence improvement strategies.

Treatment for glaucoma: adherence by the elderly.

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent of nonadherence to treatment for glaucoma among elderly patients. This was a retrospective cohort study of 2440 patients older than age 65 who were enrolled in the New Jersey Medicaid Program and who were newly initiated on a topical agent for the treatment of glaucoma. Two patient-specific measures of nonadherence were employed: (1) no filled prescription for any glaucoma medication over a 12-month period after the initiation of therapy and (2) number of days without therapy for glaucoma during this 12-month period. By the first measure, 569 patients (23%) were found to be nonadherent. The mean number of days without therapy during the study year was 112. Factors associated with nonadherence included the use of glaucoma medication requiring more than 2 administrations per day and the presence of multiple other medications in the patient's drug regimen. Patients started on multiple glaucoma medication were more adherent than those started on a single agent. Age and sex were not found to be predictors of nonadherence. Substantial nonadherence was found to be common in this population. More attention to the issue of nonadherence could result in important benefits in the preservation of sight.

Antecedents of adherence to medical recommendations: results from the Medical Outcomes Study.

A longitudinal study of patients with chronic medical diseases (hypertension, diabetes, heart disease) was conducted to identify antecedents of adherence to medical recommendations. Data are from 1198 patients in three health-care provision systems in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Boston. Nonadherence at the beginning of the study was the strongest predictor of nonadherence 2 years later. Other significant predictors varied by type of adherence outcome. Patients who were younger and who relied upon avoidant coping strategies tended to be less likely to follow their doctor's specific recommendations. Patients who were distressed about their health, used avoidant coping strategies, or who reported worse physical and role functioning were less likely to adhere in general. Patient satisfaction with two features of care (interpersonal quality and financial aspects) was positively related to adherence in some models, but satisfaction with the technical quality of care was negatively associated with adherence to specific recommendations among heart disease patients. Social support contributed to specific adherence among diabetic patients. Implications of the study for medical care providers are discussed.

Duration of psychosis and outcome in first-episode schizophrenia.

This study was undertaken to assess the potential effect of duration of untreated illness on outcome in a group of first-episode schizophrenic patients. Seventy patients with schizophrenia diagnosed according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria entered the study and were followed for up to 3 years. All patients received standardized treatment and uniform assessments both during the acute phase of their illness and throughout the follow-up period. Outcome was measured in terms of time to remission of acute psychotic symptoms as well as degree of symptom remission. The mean duration of psychotic symptoms before initial treatment was 52 weeks, preceded by a substantial prepsychotic period. According to survival analysis, duration of illness before treatment was found to be significantly associated with time to remission as well as with level of remission. The effect of duration of illness on outcome remained significant when diagnosis and gender variables, themselves associated with outcome, were controlled in a regression analysis. Duration of illness was not correlated with age at onset, mode of onset, premorbid adjustment, or severity of illness at entry into the study. Duration of psychosis before treatment may be an important predictor of outcome in first-episode schizophrenia. Acute psychotic symptoms could reflect an active morbid process which, if not ameliorated by neuroleptic drug treatment, may result in lasting morbidity. Further implications of these findings are discussed.

Medication packaging: simple solutions to nonadherence problems?

Medication nonadherence represents a well-documented, highly prevalent obstacle to successful long-term management of chronic illnesses. Recent research has focused on predictors of nonadherence, interventions for improving adherence, and measurement of medication adherence. Better medication packaging has received little attention as a partial solution to nonadherence complexities. Packaging has the obvious advantages of being continuous, inexpensive, and patient-oriented, while demanding little physician extra involvement. The ideal packaging solution should include six component functions: storage, education, cueing, monitoring, dispensing, and reinforcement. Practically, all six functions are highly interrelated necessitating tradeoffs. Combining several functions usually results in increased cost and decreased portability. A number of proposed devices for specific adherence-improving function are described, ranging from complex to simple. The need for more and better research to define and validate interventions is more critical, now that we recognize the consequences of nonadherence.