title: The influence of illness acceptance on the adherence to pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapy in patients with hypertension.
abstract: The available publications show that 50% of patients with hypertension discontinue their medications within the first 12 months after the beginning of treatment.
  
  
  
  The aim of the study was to analyse the relationship between the acceptance of illness and the adherence to pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapy in patients with hypertension.
  
  
  
  The study included 102 patients with hypertension examined with validated instruments: Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS), Health Behavior Inventory (HBI) and Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8).
  
  
  
  High (>30 points) and moderate (19-29 points) levels of AIS were presented respectively by 59 and 43 patients. In a univariate analysis, the level of AIS had a statistically significant, independent, positive influence on all domains of the HBI questionnaire: HBI (Spearman's coefficient of rank correlation (rS) =+0.3997), healthy eating habits (rS=+ 0.376), preventive behaviours (rS=+0.242), positive mental attitude (rS=+0.504), health practices (rS=+0.264). In univariate analysis the level of MMAS-8 was influenced by female gender (rS=+0.325; p=0.001), higher education level (rS=+0.241; p=0.015), employment (rS=+0.217; p=0.029) and short duration of illness (rS=+0.229; p=0.022). Multiple regression analysis showed that female gender was an independent predictor of pharmacological adherence (β=+0.325; p=0.001). Illness acceptance was an independent predictor in two domains of the HBI: positive mental attitude HBI domain (β=+0.468; p<0.001) and healthy eating habits (β=+0.321; p=0.001).
  
  
  
  (1) Correlation analysis shows that illness acceptance is an important factor contributing to a higher level of adherence to non-pharmacological therapy of hypertension (total index of health behaviours: healthy eating habits, preventive behaviours, positive mental attitude, health practice) but has no influence on adherence to pharmacological treatment. (2) Female gender, higher levels of education, and the short duration of the disease significantly improve patients' adherence to the prescribed pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapy of hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Nursing, Wrocław Medical University, Poland bianko@poczta.onet.pl.
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jankowska-Polańska
authors.affiliation: Hypertension clinic at a University Teaching Hospital in Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Blicharska
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Nursing, Wrocław Medical University, Poland.
authors.forename: Izabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Uchmanowicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health Sciences, UCLA School of Public Health, Los Angeles, USA.
authors.forename: Donald E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Morisky
mesh_terms: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D055118:Medication Adherence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents
keywords: Illness acceptance; adherence; hypertension