Exploring Medication Adherence Amongst Australian Adults Using an Extended Theory of Planned Behaviour.

BACKGROUND: This study examined the psychological predictors of general prescription medication adherence using an extended theory of planned behaviour (i.e. adding habit strength). The addition of habit strength to the model aimed to close the gap between intention and behaviour to further understand the psychological predictors of adherence. METHOD: In this prospective study, self-report data was collected online at two time points, 1 week apart, from 114 Australian adults and was used to explore the role of the theory of planned behaviour variables (attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioural control and intention), and habit strength in predicting medication adherence. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to explore the relationships between variables. RESULTS: Results showed that collectively attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control were unable to significantly predict intention to adhere. A ceiling effect was identified in intention. Perceived behavioural control was the only significant predictor of adherence behaviour (ß = .41, p < .001). Habit strength was not found to be a significant predictor of adherence in this sample. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study show partial support for the predictive ability of the theory of planned behaviour in predicting intentions and medication adherence. It also adds to the growing literature showing the importance of perceived behavioural control in health behaviours. Behaviour change techniques related to enhancing self-efficacy, such as self-monitoring of the behaviour or keeping a diary, could be of use in interventions tailored to increase medication adherence.

Acceptability of a behaviour change intervention aimed at increasing the use of a reusable hot drink cup.

Plastic pollution is an acute issue, with single-use plastic contributing to it significantly. It is beneficial for the planet if we engage in more sustainable behaviors, such as using reusable items instead of single-use ones, thus reducing plastic pollution. We implemented an intervention to increase the use of reusable coffee cups, by employing behavior change techniques that targeted values towards environment, intention to use a reusable cup, and habit. The intervention was successful in increasing the participants' use of reusable cups. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the acceptability of the intervention and research methods, as well as opinions of participants about the process and intervention effectiveness, using a mixed methods approach. Participants (N = 156) answered open and closed survey questions about the acceptability of the intervention, and 11 participated in interviews regarding their experience of intervention. The intervention was deemed acceptable and useful by all participants, regardless of which intervention condition they were allocated to, according to both survey and interview data. Men, however, evaluated the intervention as less personally relevant than women, with overall participation of men in the intervention being smaller than women. Recommendations for implementing similar interventions and future research are offered.

Is 'a little' too much?: An exploration of women's beliefs about alcohol use during pregnancy.

Objective: Interventions to address alcohol use during pregnancy need to target underlying determinants of the behaviour. Using the theory of planned behaviour as a theoretical framework, the aim of this study was to identify behavioural, normative and control beliefs regarding alcohol use during pregnancy among a sample of women. Design: 435 women completed a 15-minute online questionnaire designed to identify beliefs about alcohol use during pregnancy. Data were categorised according to type of belief and then summarised and described. Results: The majority of respondents saw few advantages of consuming alcohol during pregnancy and believed that most people would disapprove of alcohol use during pregnancy. Although most women endorsed alcohol abstinence during pregnancy, views on the perceived risk of different levels of alcohol use and perceptions of the 'typical' person who drinks while pregnant varied between participants. Conclusion: This work contributes to the understanding of women's beliefs about alcohol use during pregnancy. Future research should explore how women's beliefs inform their decision making about different levels of alcohol use in pregnancy. Additionally, further research or messaging about alcohol use in pregnancy must also consider the potential for contributing to stigmatising beliefs.

A scoping review on interventions to promote physical activity among adults with disabilities.

BACKGROUND: Despite the strong evidence that physical activity (PA) is a key determinant of health, there is limited knowledge on the content and outcomes of PA promotion interventions among individuals with disabilities. OBJECTIVE: To conduct a scoping review in order to examine the published literature on PA promotion interventions among adults with disabilities. METHODS: A scoping review following the methodological framework provided by Arksey and O'Malley used electronic databases (MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and CINAHL), reference lists, and journals to locate studies. Inclusion criteria were based on study aim, outcome measures, and a disability definition by the WHO International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. The Behavior Change Techniques Taxonomy version 1 and Furlan and collaborators' risk of bias assessment were utilized during the data charting stage. RESULTS: Thirty-eight articles met the inclusion criteria. Most of the studies (70%) reported a significant increase in PA behavior immediately following intervention. However, less than half of the studies (46%) examined the maintenance of pre-/post-test differences. The number of identified behavior change techniques was significantly higher for successful PA promotion interventions than for interventions with no effects on PA. Approximately one-third of studies (32%) were rated as having a high risk of bias. CONCLUSIONS: Although findings support the idea that PA promotion interventions produce positive changes in PA behavior for a variety of disability conditions, risk of bias assessment calls for prudence. There are opportunities for continued development of the area of PA promotion among individuals with disabilities through systematic reviews and meta-analyses.