title: A Theory-Based Approach for Developing Interventions to Change Patient Behaviours: A Medication Adherence Example from Paediatric Secondary Care.
abstract: In this article we introduce a Health Psychology approach to changing patient behaviour, in order to demonstrate the value of Health Psychology professional practice as applied within healthcare settings. Health Psychologists are experts in understanding, predicting and changing health-related behaviours at the individual, group and population level. They combine psychological theory, research evidence and service-user views to design interventions to solve clinically relevant behavioural problems and improve health outcomes. We provide a pragmatic overview of a theory and evidence-based Intervention Mapping approach for developing, implementing and evaluating interventions to change health-related behaviour. An example of a real behaviour change intervention designed to improve medication adherence in an adolescent patient with poorly controlled asthma is described to illustrate the main stages of the intervention development process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET, UK. g.heath1@aston.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Heath
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET, UK. r.cooke@aston.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cooke
authors.affiliation: Manchester Centre for Health Psychology, University of Manchester, Coupland 1 Building, Coupland Street, Manchester M13 9PL, UK. elaine.cameron@manchester.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cameron
keywords: adherence; behaviour change; intervention; paediatrics; self-management