describes a brief overview of what to consider when adhering to health behavior

1. Adherence to health
behavior

2. QUESTIONS
1. What is adherence, how is it measured, and how frequently does it occur?
2. What factors predict adherence?
3. What are continuum theories of health behaviour, and how do they explain adherence?
4. What are stage theories of health behaviour, and how do they explain adherence?
5. What is the intention–behaviour gap, and what factors predict whether intentions are translated into
behaviour?
6. How can adherence be improved?
7. why some people adhere to recommendations for healthy behaviour, but others often have difficult

3. What is Adherence?
• What does it mean to be adherent? We define adherence as a person’s ability and willingness to follow
recommended health practices
• R. Brian Haynes (1979) suggested a broader definition of the term, defining adherence as “the extent to
which a person’s behaviour (in terms of taking medications, following diets, or executing lifestyle changes)
coincides with medical or health advice

4. How is Adherence Measured?
1. asking the practitioner
2. asking the patient
3. asking other people
4. monitoring medication usage
5. examining biochemical evidence
6. and using a combination of these procedures

5. what are barriers to adherence
1. “It’s too much trouble.”
2. “The medication was too expensive, so I took fewer pills to make them last.”
3. “The medication didn’t work very well. I was still sick, so I stopped taking it.”
4. “The medication worked after only one week, so I stopped taking it.”
5. “I won’t get sick. God will save me.”
6. “I’ll start the diet tomorrow.”
7. “I’ll never be able to stick to that diet plan.”
8. “I’m too embarrassed to go to the gym.”
9. “I don’t have the time in my schedule to exercise.”
10. “A cancer screening test will be too painful and uncomfortable.”
11. “The medication makes me sick.”
12. “I feel fine. I don’t see any reason to take something to prevent illness.”
13. “Healthy foods take too long to prepare.”
14. “I don’t like my doctor. He looks down on people without insurance.”
15. “I didn’t understand my doctor’s instructions and was too embarrassed to ask her to repeat them.” “I don’t like the taste of nicotine chewing gum.”
16. “I didn’t understand the directions on the label.”