A Study on the Application of the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB) Model on Rational Drug Use Behavior among Second-Level Hospital Outpatients in Anhui, China.
BACKGROUND
The high prevalence of risky irrational drug use behaviors mean that outpatients face high risks of drug resistance and even death. This study represents the first application of the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB) model on rational drug use behavior among second-level hospital outpatients from three prefecture-level cities in Anhui, China. Using the IMB model, our study examined predictors of rational drug use behavior and determined the associations between the model constructs.


METHODS
This study was conducted with a sample of 1,214 outpatients aged 18 years and older in Anhui second-level hospitals and applied the structural equation model (SEM) to test predictive relations among the IMB model variables related to rational drug use behavior.


RESULTS
Age, information and motivation had significant direct effects on rational drug use behavior. Behavioral skills as an intermediate variable also significantly predicted more rational drug use behavior. Female gender, higher educational level, more information and more motivation predicted more behavioral skills. In addition, there were significant indirect impacts on rational drug use behavior mediated through behavioral skills.


CONCLUSIONS
The IMB-based model explained the relationships between the constructs and rational drug use behavior of outpatients in detail, and it suggests that future interventions among second-level hospital outpatients should consider demographic characteristics and should focus on improving motivation and behavioral skills in addition to the publicity of knowledge.
The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, PR China.
Cheng
C
Bian
Guangdong Provincial Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China.
Shuman
S
Xu
The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, PR China.
Heng
H
Wang
The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, PR China.
Niannian
N
Li
The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, PR China.
Jingya
J
Wu
The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, PR China.
Yunwu
Y
Zhao
The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, PR China.
Peng
P
Li
Anhui Provincial Hospital, Hefei, Anhui, PR China.
Hua
H
Lu
D000328:Adult; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009042:Motivation; D010045:Outpatients; D012309:Risk-Taking