Time perspective and medication adherence among individuals with hypertension or diabetes mellitus.
OBJECTIVE
The study determined if time perspective was associated with medication adherence among people with hypertension and diabetes.


METHODS
Using the Health Beliefs Model, we used path analysis to test direct and indirect effects of time perspective and health beliefs on adherence among 178 people who participated in a community-based survey near Washington, D.C. We measured three time perspectives (future, present fatalistic, and present hedonistic) with the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory and medication adherence by self-report.


RESULTS
The total model demonstrated a good fit (RMSEA=0.17, 90% CI [0.10, 0.28], p=0.003; comparative fit index=0.91). Future time perspective and age showed direct effects on increased medication adherence; an increase by a single unit in future time perspective was associated with a 0.32 standard deviation increase in reported adherence. There were no significant indirect effects of time perspective with reported medication adherence through health beliefs.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings provide the first evidence that time perspective plays an under-recognized role as a psychological motivator in medication adherence.


CONCLUSIONS
Patient counseling for medication adherence may be enhanced if clinicians incorporate consideration of the patient's time perspective.
University of Memphis Institute on Disability, University of Memphis USA; Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, USA. Electronic address: bssnsbry@memphis.edu.
Brittany
B
Sansbury
Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, USA.
Abhijit
A
Dasgupta
Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, USA.
Lori
L
Guthrie
Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, USA.
Michael
M
Ward
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D004219:District of Columbia; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008396:Maryland; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014903:West Virginia
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents
Medication adherence; Patient education; Time perspective