Enhancing commitment improves adherence to a medical regimen.
A commitment-based intervention was evaluated for improvement of adherence to a 10-day antibiotic regimen. Experimental Ss made verbal and written commitments for adherence and completed tasks designed to increase their investment in a medication regimen. Control Ss performed similarly structured tasks unrelated to the medical regimen. Adherence, measured by unannounced pill counts, was significantly higher for experimental subjects than for control Ss. Self-reported adherence was significantly correlated with posttest self-efficacy but not with pretest self-efficacy. Adherence to a medical regimen may be improved by strategies conceptually based on the investment model of commitment, which provides a useful framework for further study of adherence.
Department of Psychology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg 24061-0436.
D E
DE
Putnam
J W
JW
Finney
P L
PL
Barkley
M J
MJ
Bonner
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013333:Student Health Services
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents