Effects of medication, treatment, and behavioral beliefs on intentions to take medication in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia

Background and aims: Although familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) can be effectively managed using cholesterol-lowering medication, patients often fall short of complete treatment adherence. Identifying the psychological factors associated with self-regulation of FH medication is important to inform...

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Main Authors: Hagger, Martin, Hardcastle, Sarah, Hu, M., Kwok, S., Lin, J., Nawawi, H., Pang, J., Santos, R., Soran, H., Su, T., Tomlinson, B., Watts, G.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Elsevier Ireland 2018
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/69626
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author Hagger, Martin
Hardcastle, Sarah
Hu, M.
Kwok, S.
Lin, J.
Nawawi, H.
Pang, J.
Santos, R.
Soran, H.
Su, T.
Tomlinson, B.
Watts, G.
author_facet Hagger, Martin
Hardcastle, Sarah
Hu, M.
Kwok, S.
Lin, J.
Nawawi, H.
Pang, J.
Santos, R.
Soran, H.
Su, T.
Tomlinson, B.
Watts, G.
author_sort Hagger, Martin
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Background and aims: Although familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) can be effectively managed using cholesterol-lowering medication, patients often fall short of complete treatment adherence. Identifying the psychological factors associated with self-regulation of FH medication is important to inform interventions to maximize adherence. The aim of the present study was to test an integrated psychological model in predicting FH patients' intentions to take medication. Methods: FH patients attending clinics in seven countries were invited to participate in a cross-sectional survey study. Consenting patients (N = 551) completed self-report measures of generalized beliefs about medication overuse and harms, beliefs in treatment effectiveness, specific beliefs about taking medication (attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control), and intentions to take medication. Participants also completed measures of demographic variables (age, gender, education level, income, cardiovascular disease status). Data were analysed using path analysis controlling for country and demographic variables. Results: Attitudes (ß = .331, p<0.001), subjective norms (ß = .121, p=0.009), and beliefs about medication overuse (ß = -.160, p<0.001) were significant predictors of intentions to take medication. Treatment beliefs predicted intentions indirectly (ß = .088, p<0.001) through attitudes and subjective norms. There was also an indirect effect of beliefs about medication overuse on intentions (ß = -.045, p=0.056), but the effect was small compared with the direct effect. Conclusions: The findings indicate the importance among FH patients of specific beliefs about taking medication and generalized beliefs about medication overuse and treatment in predicting medication intentions. When managing patients, clinicians should emphasize the efficacy of taking cholesterol-lowering drugs and the importance of treatment outcomes, and allay concerns about medication overuse.
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institution Curtin University Malaysia
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publishDate 2018
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-696262018-09-11T05:29:55Z Effects of medication, treatment, and behavioral beliefs on intentions to take medication in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia Hagger, Martin Hardcastle, Sarah Hu, M. Kwok, S. Lin, J. Nawawi, H. Pang, J. Santos, R. Soran, H. Su, T. Tomlinson, B. Watts, G. Background and aims: Although familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) can be effectively managed using cholesterol-lowering medication, patients often fall short of complete treatment adherence. Identifying the psychological factors associated with self-regulation of FH medication is important to inform interventions to maximize adherence. The aim of the present study was to test an integrated psychological model in predicting FH patients' intentions to take medication. Methods: FH patients attending clinics in seven countries were invited to participate in a cross-sectional survey study. Consenting patients (N = 551) completed self-report measures of generalized beliefs about medication overuse and harms, beliefs in treatment effectiveness, specific beliefs about taking medication (attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control), and intentions to take medication. Participants also completed measures of demographic variables (age, gender, education level, income, cardiovascular disease status). Data were analysed using path analysis controlling for country and demographic variables. Results: Attitudes (ß = .331, p<0.001), subjective norms (ß = .121, p=0.009), and beliefs about medication overuse (ß = -.160, p<0.001) were significant predictors of intentions to take medication. Treatment beliefs predicted intentions indirectly (ß = .088, p<0.001) through attitudes and subjective norms. There was also an indirect effect of beliefs about medication overuse on intentions (ß = -.045, p=0.056), but the effect was small compared with the direct effect. Conclusions: The findings indicate the importance among FH patients of specific beliefs about taking medication and generalized beliefs about medication overuse and treatment in predicting medication intentions. When managing patients, clinicians should emphasize the efficacy of taking cholesterol-lowering drugs and the importance of treatment outcomes, and allay concerns about medication overuse. 2018 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/69626 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2018.06.010 Elsevier Ireland restricted
spellingShingle Hagger, Martin
Hardcastle, Sarah
Hu, M.
Kwok, S.
Lin, J.
Nawawi, H.
Pang, J.
Santos, R.
Soran, H.
Su, T.
Tomlinson, B.
Watts, G.
Effects of medication, treatment, and behavioral beliefs on intentions to take medication in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia
title Effects of medication, treatment, and behavioral beliefs on intentions to take medication in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia
title_full Effects of medication, treatment, and behavioral beliefs on intentions to take medication in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia
title_fullStr Effects of medication, treatment, and behavioral beliefs on intentions to take medication in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia
title_full_unstemmed Effects of medication, treatment, and behavioral beliefs on intentions to take medication in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia
title_short Effects of medication, treatment, and behavioral beliefs on intentions to take medication in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia
title_sort effects of medication, treatment, and behavioral beliefs on intentions to take medication in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/69626