Patient adherence in an individualized rehabilitation programme: a clinical follow-up.
OBJECTIVE
This investigation aims to describe patients with longstanding pain who did not complete their participation and/or participated infrequently in physiotherapy (PT) treatment based on their own activity and responsibility, and in addition to understand the phenomenon of adherence from a behavioural theoretical perspective.


METHODS
The phenomenon compliance/adherence was studied in relation to health locus of control (HLC) factors and health belief (HB) variables. Outcome measures were based on a questionnaire answered by all patients before the beginning of treatment. Definitions of adherence were completed treatment period and exercise frequency respectively. Patients completing treatment were compared with those who did not. Exercise frequencies of those completing treatment were also studied.


RESULTS
Those who did not complete treatment reported higher pain intensity, higher Oswestry score, and worse general health than those completing treatment. Results also showed that those who exercised once a week or less often valued the significance of healthcare treatment less, perceived higher pain intensity, presented a higher Oswestry score, worse general health, more pain locations, lower expectations, were younger and almost solely women, than those who exercised more often.


CONCLUSIONS
Individuals exercising irregularly were above all women. This fact needs further investigation. Individuals' belief in treatment effects is of significance to adherence. Adherence is a comprehensive concept and depending on how we look at it we find different populations.
Engström
Lena Oldfors
LO
Department of Health and Society, Division of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Linköping, SE-581-83 Linköping, Sweden. lena.oldfors.engstrom@ihs.liu.se
Oberg
Birgitta
B
D001294:Attitude to Health; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000523:psychology