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Maintaining medication compliance in hypertensives: An attributional approach
Abstract
This study examined Kopel and Arkowitz's (1975) hypothesis that self-attributed behavior change is more likely to be maintained than behavior change that is attributed to external factors. In particular, this study investigated the effects of attempts to increase hypertensive subjects' perceptions of internal control over their antihypertensive treatment with the intent of maintaining positive effects (i.e., increased medication adherence and lowered systolic/diastolic blood pressures) at follow-up. The study included one independent variable, antihypertensive treatment, with three levels of interventions: routine clinic care, adherence counseling, and attributional counseling. It was hypothesized that providing hypertensive subjects with attributional interpretations, which emphasized subjects' self-control over their treatment, would result in increased medication adherence and lowered systolic/diastolic blood pressures at posttreatment and follow-up measurement. Twenty-nine outpatient medical patients who had been referred by their family physicians for difficulty in controlling blood pressure and who were suspected of poor adherence were selected for the study. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of the three treatment groups (i.e., routine clinic care, adherence counseling, attributional counseling). They then participated in four 15-20 minute sessions and a 1-month follow-up. Medication adherence rates, systolic/diastolic blood pressures, attributions, and other factors important to positive changes were assessed throughout treatment. Results did not support Kopel and Arkowitz's (1975) hypothesis. Subjects in the three treatment groups demonstrated equally high rates of medication adherence at posttreatment and at a 1-month follow-up. Systolic blood pressure decreased significantly for the three treatment groups, with greatest decreases for the attributional treatment group. There was also a nonsignificant trend for diastolic blood pressures to decrease, with greatest changes noted in the attributional group. Subject's perceptions of internal control over their hypertension did not change over time.
Subject Area
Psychotherapy
Recommended Citation
Kavan, Michael Gerard, "Maintaining medication compliance in hypertensives: An attributional approach" (1988). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI8824939.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI8824939