Healthy Living - Adherence to Medical Regimes - Measures of Non-Adherence - Lustman

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  • Created by: Majid
  • Created on: 31-12-12 19:00

Measures of Non-Adherence - Lustman

One way non-adherence can be measured is through a cost-benefit analysis. Non-adherence may be rational or irrational e.g. forgetting to take medication. This is known as cognitive-rational non-adherence. Measurements of adherence can be direct or non-direct e.g. through self reports or directly by measuring the amount of medication in the blood.

By using self-reports the participants can report on their behaviour by giving detailed info about why they've adhered to it (or not). And it can allow doctors to understand the reasons for non-adherence. However, using self-reports leads to social desirability bias, so people may lie to adherence. But using Biochemical tests is effective as it is an objective measures that shows whether the prescribed drug is present physiologically. But it has its limitations as it shows medication has been taken recently but doesn't show long term effects.

Aim/M&P/Results: Assess effectiveness of fluoxetine as a treatment for depression in patients with diabetes; Lab experiment; 60 patients; had type 1/2 diabetes; diagnosed with depression; Reduction in depression symptoms was significantly greater in patients treated with fluoxetine compared with those receiving the placebo. Patients had normal blood sugar levels, which indicated improved adherence to the regime.

Conclusion: The method measuring non-adherence is effective to an extent but it still has many limitations.

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