title: Adherence to health regimens among frequent attenders of Finnish healthcare.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to describe adherence to health regimens and the factors associated with it among adult frequent attenders (FAs).
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study. The study sample consisted of 462 healthcare FAs in 7 municipal health centres in northern Finland. An FA is a person who has had 8 or more outpatient visits to a GP (in a health centre) or 4 or more outpatient visits to a university hospital during 1 year. The main outcome was self-reported adherence to health regimens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the FAs, 82% adhered well to their health regimens. Carrying out self-care, medical care and feeling responsible for self-care were the most significant predictors to good adherence in all models. No significant differences in adherence were found in male and female subjects, age groups or educational levels. Support from healthcare providers and support from relatives were not significant predictors of good adherence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FAs in Finland adhere well to health regimens and exceptionally well to medication. Variables that predict the best adherence of FAs to health regimens are carrying out self-care, receiving medical care and feeling responsible for self-care.
authors.affiliation: Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland; sari.hirsikangas@ppshp.fi.
authors.forename: Sari
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hirsikangas
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Health and Welfare, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Outi
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kanste
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Juha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Korpelainen
authors.affiliation: Research Group of Nursing Science and Health Management, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.|Northern Ostrobothnia Hospital District, Finland.
authors.forename: Helvi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kyngäs
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006300:Health Services Misuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012648:Self Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D016903:Drug Monitoring
keywords: adherence; chronic disease; frequent attender; health regimen