title: Predicting adherence to eye patching in children with amblyopia: an application of protection motivation theory.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study reports an application of protection motivation theory (PMT) to the prediction of parental adherence to eye patching recommendations for children with amblyopia over a 2-month period. The study also considered the role of past behaviour in PMT.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 151 parents of children with amblyopia who were attending follow-up appointments for orthoptic treatment participated. They completed questionnaires based on PMT to assess their beliefs about amblyopia and eye patching. Of the parents, 105 were contacted again at 2-month follow-up to obtain a measure of adherence to the recommended treatment for their child.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PMT was found to be predictive of adherence intentions and behaviour at 2-month follow-up. Regression analyses revealed perceived vulnerability, response efficacy and self-efficacy to be significant predictors of protection motivation, whereas perceived vulnerability and response costs were significant predictors of adherence behaviour. Past adherence behaviour was found to have a direct effect on future adherence behaviour over and above the influence of PMT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results are discussed in relation to the sufficiency of PMTas a model of adherence behaviour. The practical implications for attempts to increase adherence to eye patching among children with amblyopia are outlined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, UK. p.norman@sheffield.ac.uk
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Norman
authors.forename: Aidan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Searle
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Harrad
authors.forename: Kav
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vedhara
mesh_terms: D000550:Amblyopia / Q000628:therapy*; D001458:Bandages; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology*; D011582:Psychological Theory; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires