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The Therapy Attitudes and Process Questionnaire: A Brief Measure of Factors Related to Psychotherapy Appointment Attendance

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Abstract

Background

Patient non-attendance and dropout remains problematic in mental health settings. The theory of planned behavior (TPB) has proven useful in understanding such challenges in a variety of healthcare settings, but the absence of an adequate measure in mental health has hampered research in this area.

Objective

The aim of the current study was to develop and conduct an initial psychometric investigation of a brief measure, the Therapy Attitudes and Process Questionnaire (TAP), utilizing the TPB to understand factors associated with attendance in mental health settings.

Methods

We used a quantitative survey-based design and administered the TAP to 178 adult participants who were engaged in individual or group psychotherapy. A subsample also provided data to assess validity and reliability.

Results

A four-factor solution was revealed through exploratory factor analysis and accounted for approximately 75 % of the variance in scores. Factors corresponded to those predicted by the TPB. Analyses supported the reliability, validity, and internal consistency of the measure.

Conclusions

Results suggest that the TAP may be a useful tool for examining patients’ attitudes and beliefs about attending psychotherapy appointments. The TAP can be used to better understand patients’ intentions, attitudes, perceptions of behavioral control, and subjective norms relating to psychotherapy attendance. This understanding may facilitate improved outcomes for patients and clinicians.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Professor John O’Gorman for the statistical advice and guidance he provided in the preparation of this paper.

Author contributions

Bonnie Clough contributed to the questionnaire development, study design, data collection, data analysis, and writing of the manuscript. Sonia Nazareth contributed to the study design, data collection, data analysis, and writing of the manuscript. Leanne Casey contributed to the questionnaire development, study design, oversight, and writing of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology and Counselling, Institute for Resilient Regions, University of Southern Queensland, 37 Sinnathamby Boulevard, Springfield Central, QLD, 4300, Australia

    Bonnie A. Clough

  2. School of Applied Psychology, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Mt Gravatt, QLD, Australia

    Bonnie A. Clough, Sonia M. Nazareth & Leanne M. Casey

Authors
  1. Bonnie A. Clough
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  2. Sonia M. Nazareth
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bonnie A. Clough.

Ethics declarations

This study was approved by the associated university human research ethics committee and was performed in accordance with the ethical standards of the Declaration of Helsinki. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Conflict of interest

Bonnie Clough, Sonia Nazareth, and Leanne Casey have no financial, personal, or professional conflicts of interest to declare.

Funding

No funding was received for this study.

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Clough, B.A., Nazareth, S.M. & Casey, L.M. The Therapy Attitudes and Process Questionnaire: A Brief Measure of Factors Related to Psychotherapy Appointment Attendance. Patient 10, 237–250 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40271-016-0199-3

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