Self-Efficacy and Adherence Behaviors in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

Details

• Journal Article:
  Preventing Chronic Disease (PCD)
• Personal Author:
  Oshotse, Christiana ; Zullig, Leah L. ; Bosworth, Hayden B. ; Tu, Pikuei ; Lin, Cheryl
• Description:
  Introduction
  
  Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common disease that requires patient self-management with chronic medications. Adherence rates for RA medications are suboptimal. This study explores medication adherence and self-efficacy behaviors among RA patients.
  
  Methods
  
  We conducted a qualitative study comprising focus groups and individual interviews. Nineteen participants were recruited and screened to participate in three 90-minute focus groups (n = 13) and six 60-minute individual interviews. We created and maintained a codebook to analyze data. Interviews were analyzed by using NViVo qualitative analysis software.
  
  Results
  
  Key points in participant interviews were 1) self-efficacy as influenced by the ability to establish routines, and having an understanding relationship with their healthcare provider; 2) self-efficacy to adjust medications depended on having permission from providers to adjust medications, perceptions of the effectiveness of medications, and confidence in self-knowledge to make appropriate adjustments; and 3) changes in self-efficacy over time were influenced by initial denial and later acceptance of the diagnosis. Participant interviews revealed that medication adherence is a spectrum that ranges from adherent to nonadherent.
  
  Conclusion
  
  Participants’ experience with RA medications revealed varied underlying reasons for adherence behaviors. Recognizing adherence as a dynamic behavior has important implications for how adherence interventions are designed. For example, participants reported adjusting medications in response to the unpredictable nature of RA. Interventions could collect information about RA symptoms and be tailored to provide adherence support at times when patients need it most. The importance of self-efficacy in influencing participants’ adherence behaviors is an area for continuing research among patients and providers.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Adolescent Adult Aged Antirheumatic Agents Arthritis, Rheumatoid Attitude To Health Female Focus Groups Humans Male Middle Aged Original Research Patient Compliance Qualitative Research Self-Management/psychology Self Efficacy Time Factors Young Adult

  More +
• Source:
  Prev Chronic Dis. 15
• DOI:
  http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd15.180218
• ISSN:
  1545-1151
• Pubmed ID:
  30339772
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC6198676
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  CDA 13-025/HX/HSRD VA/United States
• Volume:
  15
• Collection(s):
  Preventing Chronic Disease
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:e95755a59c3cae851326c916f0c4c13788dcbf10e55530a0c3da1d59883b7461e345837fcacb1bbcf56bb2cf154e6d1a8bbdbe0464fcaf9c9ab5d798dcdecd39
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/60338/cdc_60338_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 292.47 KB ]