Promoting adherence to antibiotics: a test of implementation intentions.
OBJECTIVE
This prospective study tested whether implementation intentions increased adherence to short-term antibiotics in a patient sample. Implementation intentions specify exactly when and where an individual will undertake an activity. They may help people achieve health behaviours, such as taking medicines.


METHODS
A total of 220 patients with an antibiotics prescription were randomly assigned to four groups (control, Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) questionnaire, TPB questionnaire+formed own implementation intention for taking the medicine, TPB questionnaire+researcher formed implementation intention). Participants were telephoned at the end of the course to record adherence. Two hundred and seven participants completed the study.


RESULTS
At follow-up, adherence was high (75.8% reported no tablets left). Analysis revealed no significant difference in adherence between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
High adherence to antibiotics was achieved, but not improved by implementation intentions.


CONCLUSIONS
Providing information and telephone follow-up may have been the unintended effective intervention in this study.
Jackson
Cath
C
School of Healthcare, BAines Wing, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK. c.j.jackson@leeds.ac.uk
Lawton
Rebecca J
RJ
Raynor
David K
DK
Knapp
Peter
P
Conner
Mark T
MT
Lowe
Catherine J
CJ
Closs
S José
SJ
D000328:Adult; D000359:Aftercare; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003463:Cues; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012646:Self Administration / Q000523:psychology*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents