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Adherence to Medical Advice: Processes and Measurement

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Abstract

Much of the research of the past few decades has approached adherence from a global perspective. The multiple processes underlying adherence to medical advice have not been examined for the identification of phase-specific covariates or for the identification of phase-specific interventions. This chapter reviews the multiple processes that underlie adherence including the phases of adoption through continuance, the influence of measurement and analysis strategies, as well as the impact of a global approach on the identification of predictors and interventions. It is recommended that future research examine more specifically each phase in the process of adhering using sensitive measures and analytic approaches appropriate to the measures and the distribution of data.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Pittsburgh, 350 Victoria Building, 3500 Victoria St, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA

    Jacqueline Dunbar-Jacob (Professor and Dean of Nursing)

  2. Center for Research and Evaluation, School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, 350 Victoria Building, 3500 Victoria St, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA

    Martin P. Houze (Graduate Student)

  3. Department of Health and Community Systems, School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, 350 Victoria Building, 3500 Victoria St, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA

    Cameron Kramer (Graduate Student)

  4. Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, 350 Victoria Building 3500 Victoria st., Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA

    Faith Luyster (Postdoctoral Scholar in Psychiatry)

  5. Department of Health and Community Systems, School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, 360 Victoria Building, 3500 Victoria St, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA

    Maura McCall (Graduate Student)

Authors
  1. Jacqueline Dunbar-Jacob
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  2. Martin P. Houze
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  3. Cameron Kramer
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  4. Faith Luyster
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  5. Maura McCall
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Correspondence to Jacqueline Dunbar-Jacob .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. St Georges Hospital Medical School, Dept. Psychology, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London, SW17 0RE, United Kingdom

    A. Steptoe

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Dunbar-Jacob, J., Houze, M.P., Kramer, C., Luyster, F., McCall, M. (2010). Adherence to Medical Advice: Processes and Measurement. In: Steptoe, A. (eds) Handbook of Behavioral Medicine. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-09488-5_7

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