Comparing the compliance to a short schedule of subcutaneous immunotherapy and to sublingual immunotherapy during three years of treatment.

BACKGROUND: Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) in its two forms of subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) and sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is an effective treatment of respiratory allergy, but is particularly concerned by the issue of compliance. OBJECTIVE: We aimed a real-life study at evaluating the compliance to SLIT and to SCIT administered by a short-course of four injections during a 3-year period of observation. METHODS: A group of 145 patients (79 males, 66 females, age ranging from 14 to 69 years), suffering from pollen-induced rhino-conjunctivitis with or without asthma, were included in the study. Following adequate education on AIT and according to patient's preference, 72 patients chose to be treated with short-course SCIT and 73 chose to be treated with SLIT. The latter was performed by allergen extracts from different manufacturers according to the suggested schedules. RESULTS: The rate of withdrawal was as follows: after one year, 15.6% for SCIT and 33.4 for SLIT; after two years, 25.6% for SCIT and 44.8% for SLIT; after three years, 26.7 for SCIT and 46% for SLIT. There was no significant difference in the rate of withdrawal between males and females. Regarding the safety, no systemic reaction requiring medical treatment was observed either in SCIT or SLIT group. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study confirm that involving the patient in the choice of the route of administration is associated to a satisfactory compliance to AIT. In particular, more than 70% of patients treated with a short schedule of SCIT completed the three-years course of treatment that is recommended for AIT, while this goal was reached by 54% of SLIT treated patients.

Depression treatment enhances adherence to antiretroviral therapy: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Depression is a risk factor for nonadherence to HIV/AIDS treatment. PURPOSE: A meta-analysis was conducted to examine whether treatment of depression and psychological distress improves antiretroviral therapy adherence. METHODS: PubMed and PsycINFO databases were systematically searched for relevant articles. Studies that reported an association between depression treatment (or an intervention with a component addressing mental health) and antiretroviral adherence were included. RESULTS: Across 29 studies of 12,243 persons living with HIV/AIDS, treatment of depression and psychological distress improved antiretroviral adherence (p < 0.001). The odds of a person adhering were 83 % better if he/she was treated for depression. Greater improvements in adherence were found for samples with lower CD4 counts or more severe depression, for interventions specifically targeting depression (versus addressing mental health as a secondary objective), longer treatments, and observational studies. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the need for detection and treatment of depression among persons living with HIV/AIDS.

Importance of family/social support and impact on adherence to diabetic therapy.

Diabetes mellitus affects 24 million individuals in the US. In order to manage their diabetes successfully, patients must adhere to treatment regimens that include dietary restrictions, physical activity goals, and self-monitoring of glucose levels. Numerous factors affect patients' ability to adhere properly, eg, self-efficacy, treatment expectations, health beliefs, and lack of social support. Consequently, diabetes management can be quite complex, requiring lifelong commitment and drastic changes to the patient's lifestyle. Empirical studies have shown positive and significant relationships between social support and treatment adherence among patients with diabetes. Social support from family provides patients with practical help and can buffer the stresses of living with illness. However, the exact mechanism by which social support affects patient adherence is not yet completely understood. Further research is needed to address how the differences in types of support, such as functional or emotional support, are linked to outcomes for patients. The purpose of this review is to summarize what is known of the impact of social and family support on treatment adherence in patients with diabetes and to explore the current methods and interventions used to facilitate family support for diabetic patients.

Ultra short pre-seasonal subcutaneous immunotherapy and pre-coseasonal sublingual immunotherapy for pollen allergy: an evaluation of patient's preference in real life.

BACKGROUND: Specific immunotherapy (SIT) efficacy and safety by subcutaneous (SCIT) and sublingual (SLIT) route is supported by literature data. Pre-coseasonal treatment is currently the more accepted option for pollen immunotherapy in terms of costs and patient's compliance. This retrospective study evaluated the patient's preference concerning subcutaneous or sublingual route in pre-coseasonal treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 145 patients (79 males, 66 females, age ranging from 14 to 69 years), suffering from moderate-severe rhino-conjunctivitis or mild bronchial asthma and with homogeneous characteristic according to allergic disease severity. We proposed either SLIT, with extracts by different producers, or SCIT with Pollinex 4 (Allergy Therapeutics, Worthing, UK), a product designed for ultra-short administration in 4 injections, highlighting for each kind of SIT the major practical advantages or burdens. RESULTS: Of 145 patients, 72 chose Pollinex 4 SCIT and 73 chose SLIT. SCIT-treated patients received a total of 90 vaccines (18 patients had double course of SCIT). SLIT-treated patients received a total of 87 vaccines (14 patients had double course of SLIT). In the SCIT group, there were 49 males and 23 females; in the SLIT group, there were 30 males and 43 females. Mean age was 36.5 years in SCIT group and 28.5 years in SLIT group. Males preferred SCIT (49 of 72 patients) and females preferred SLIT (43 of 73 patients). No severe reaction was observed either in SCIT or SLIT group. CONCLUSION: Patients are active subjects in decisional process. Trying to apply in real life the indications coming from guidelines about patient's preference is an important matter. In our patients SCIT with ultra short schedule and SLIT are similarly preferred.

Serious psychological distress and diabetes care among California adults.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate three aspects of diabetes care (foot checks, eye examinations, and hemoglobin A 1 C checks by a physician) among California adults with Type 2 diabetes and serious psychological distress (SPD). METHOD: Data were from the population-based 2005 California Health Interview Survey. Estimates were that in 2005, 1,516,171 Californians (5.75% of all adults) had a physician-given diabetes diagnosis, and of those, 108,621 (7.16%) had co-morbid SPD. RESULTS: Among Californians with Type 2 diabetes, SPD was associated with fewer physician foot checks (odds ratio = 0.56, 95% Confidence Interval = 0.32 to 0.97) but not with fewer eye examinations or hemoglobin A 1 C checks. CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight a specific area--foot complication evaluation and prevention--for improving the quality of diabetes care among adult Californians with Type 2 diabetes and SPD.

Adherence to mammography and colorectal cancer screening in women 50-80 years of age the role of psychological distress.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of women's attitudes and health beliefs regarding breast and colorectal cancer screening practices. METHODS: Nine hundred five women, 50 to 80 years of age, were recruited from 63 randomly selected physician offices within the greater Los Angeles area. The Health Belief Model was used to evaluate potential predictor variables associated with patients' breast and colorectal cancer screening practices. RESULTS: The study results revealed that mammographic screening compliance was relatively high (70%), whereas only 29% of the patients were compliant with fecal occult blood test (FOBT) screening guidelines. Women were far more likely to obtain regular mammography screening than an FOBT. Psychological distress had one of the strongest, negative associations with breast cancer and colorectal cancer screening, and was also a prevalent predictor for many of the variables examined. CONCLUSION: Psychological distress seems to negatively impact a patient's decision to adhere to breast cancer and colorectal cancer screening recommendations, although participants were far more likely to obtain regular mammography screening than an FOBT.

Development and validation of the Physician-Patient Humor Rating Scale.

The purpose of this study was the development of a rating instrument to assess the use of humor in physician- patient interactions, and to compare humor use as a function of patients' socioeconomic status. The 46-item Physician-Patient Humor Rating Scale (PPHRS) was used to rate 246 audiotaped primary care interactions. Four subscales were reliable and valid, demonstrating correlations with patient satisfaction and reports of physician humor, with physician satisfaction and with separate affective communication ratings. There was a significant difference in use of humor as a function of patient socioeconomic status, such that there was greater mutual trust between physicians and high versus low income patients.

Physician communication and patient adherence to treatment: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Numerous empirical studies from various populations and settings link patient treatment adherence to physician-patient communication. Meta-analysis allows estimates of the overall effects both in correlational research and in experimental interventions involving the training of physicians' communication skills. OBJECTIVES: Calculation and analysis of "r effect sizes" and moderators of the relationship between physician's communication and patient adherence, and the effects of communication training on adherence to treatment regimens for varying medical conditions. METHODS: Thorough search of published literature (1949-August 2008) producing separate effects from 106 correlational studies and 21 experimental interventions. Determination of random effects model statistics and the detailed examination of study variability using moderator analyses. RESULTS: Physician communication is significantly positively correlated with patient adherence; there is a 19% higher risk of non-adherence among patients whose physician communicates poorly than among patients whose physician communicates well. Training physicians in communication skills results in substantial and significant improvements in patient adherence such that with physician communication training, the odds of patient adherence are 1.62 times higher than when a physician receives no training. CONCLUSION: Communication in medical care is highly correlated with better patient adherence, and training physicians to communicate better enhances their patients' adherence. Findings can contribute to medical education and to interventions to improve adherence, supporting arguments that communication is important and resources devoted to improving it are worth investing in. Communication is thus an important factor over which physicians have some control in helping their patients to adhere.

Affective and instrumental communication in primary care interactions: predicting the satisfaction of nursing staff and patients.

Verbal and nonverbal communication between nursing staff and patients has received scant research attention. This study examined patients' and nursing staff members' global affective and instrumental communication, mutual influence, and relationship to postvisit satisfaction. This study employed ratings of videotaped primary care visits of 81 nursing staff members with 235 patients, and assessed communication in 2 channels: nonverbal visual and speech including vocal tone. Communication channel differences and prediction of patient satisfaction were examined. The visual and vocal communication of nursing staff members and patients robustly predicted each other's satisfaction and reflected their own satisfaction with the dyadic visit. Affect was communicated more clearly through the speech with vocal tone channel, whereas instrumental communication was stronger in visual nonverbal behavior. Patients' and nursing staff members' behaviors of pleasantness and involvement frequently co-occurred.

Mental health, binge drinking, and antihypertension medication adherence.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the relationship between self-reported mental health and binge drinking, as well as health status, sociodemographic, social support, economic resource, and health care access indicators to antihypertension medication adherence. METHOD: Analysis of 2003 California Health Interview Survey data. RESULTS: Having poor mental health days predicted medication nonadherence, whereas binge drinking did not. Nonadherence predictors included younger age, Latino, non-US citizen, uninsured, less education, and no regular medical care. Adherence predictors were older age, African American, having prescription insurance, a college degree, poor health, comorbid diabetes or heart disease, and overweight or obese. CONCLUSION: Better mental health may improve medication adherence among hypertensive individuals.

Physician and patient communication training in primary care: effects on participation and satisfaction.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of a communication skills training program for physicians and patients. DESIGN: A randomized experiment to improve physician communication skills was assessed 1 and 6 months after a training intervention; patient training to be active participants was assessed after 1 month. Across three primary medical care settings, 156 physicians treating 2,196 patients were randomly assigned to control group or one of three conditions (physician, patient, or both trained). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patient satisfaction and perceptions of choice, decision-making, information, and lifestyle counseling; physicians' satisfaction and stress; and global ratings of the communication process. RESULTS: The following significant (p < .05) effects emerged: physician training improved patients' satisfaction with information and overall care; increased willingness to recommend the physician; increased physicians' counseling (as reported by patients) about weight loss, exercise, and quitting smoking and alcohol; increased physician satisfaction with physical exam detail; increased independent ratings of physicians' sensitive, connected communication with their patients, and decreased physician satisfaction with interpersonal aspects of professional life. Patient training improved physicians' satisfaction with data collection; if only physician or patient was trained, physician stress increased and physician satisfaction decreased. CONCLUSION: Implications for improving physician-patient relationship outcomes through communication skills training are discussed.

Binge drinking, poor mental health, and adherence to treatment among California adults with asthma.

Binge drinking and poor mental health may affect adherence to treatment for individuals with asthma. The purposes were to (a) examine the relationship of self-reported binge drinking and mental health to adherence to daily asthma control medications and (b) identify other demographic and health-related factors associated with asthma control medication adherence. Secondary analyses of 2003 adult California Health Interview Survey data were undertaken, and these analyses identified 3.2 million California adults who had been told by a physician they had asthma. Of these, approximately 1.7 million were symptomatic. Binge drinking significantly predicted medication nonadherence among California adults with symptomatic asthma (OR = .63, 95% CI = .45-.89), whereas poor mental health did not. Other predictors of nonadherence (odds ratios < 1, p < .05) included being overweight, younger age, having some college education, being a current smoker, and having no usual source of medical care. Predictors of adherence (odds ratios > 1, p < .05) were older age, more frequent asthma symptoms, more ER visits, more missed work days, being African American, and being a non-citizen. Intervention efforts could be directed toward improving medication adherence among adult asthma patients who engage in risky health behaviors such as binge drinking. Also at risk for medication nonadherence and therefore good targets for asthma control medication management interventions are adults who are overweight, younger (18-44 age range), have some college education, and no usual source of medical care.

The therapeutic effects of the physician-older patient relationship: effective communication with vulnerable older patients.

There is growing evidence that the outcomes of health care for seniors are dependent not only upon patients' physical health status and the administration of care for their biomedical needs, but also upon care for patients' psychosocial needs and attention to their social, economic, cultural, and psychological vulnerabilities. Even when older patients have appropriate access to medical services, they also need effective and empathic communication as an essential part of their treatment. Older patients who are socially isolated, emotionally vulnerable, and economically disadvantaged are particularly in need of the social, emotional, and practical support that sensitive provider-patient communication can provide. In this review paper, we examine the complexities of communication between physicians and their older patients, and consider some of the particular challenges that manifest in providers' interactions with their older patients, particularly those who are socially isolated, suffering from depression, or of minority status or low income. This review offers guidelines for improved physician-older patient communication in medical practice, and examines interventions to coordinate care for older patients on multiple dimensions of a biopsychosocial model of health care.

Health beliefs, disease severity, and patient adherence: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: A large body of empirical data exists on the prediction of patient adherence from subjective and objective assessments of health status and disease severity. This work can be summarized with meta-analysis. OBJECTIVES: Retrieval and summary analysis of r effect sizes and moderators of the relationship between patient adherence and patients': (1) beliefs in disease threat; (2) rated health status (by physician, self, or parent); and (3) objective disease severity. METHODS: Comprehensive search of published literature (1948-2005) yielding 116 articles, with 143 separate effect sizes. Calculation of robust, generalizable random effects model statistics, and detailed examination of study diversity with moderator analyses. RESULTS: Adherence is significantly positively correlated with patients' beliefs in the severity of the disease to be prevented or treated ("disease threat"). Better patient adherence is associated with objectively poorer health only for patients experiencing disease conditions lower in seriousness (according to the Seriousness of Illness Rating Scale). Among conditions higher in seriousness, worse adherence is associated with objectively poorer health. Similar patterns exist when health status is rated by patients themselves, and by parents in pediatric samples. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that the objective severity of patients' disease conditions, and their awareness of this severity, can predict their adherence. Patients who are most severely ill with serious diseases may be at greatest risk for nonadherence to treatment. Findings can contribute to greater provider awareness of the potential for patient nonadherence, and to better targeting of health messages and treatment advice by providers.

Preferences for medical collaboration: patient-physician congruence and patient outcomes.

Patient participation in medical care and in decision-making is generally viewed as a precursor to positive health outcomes. Patient participation is not always possible or desirable, however, and not all patients want to take an active part in their own medical care. This study examines the degree to which physician-patient congruence in preference for patient involvement is related to self-reported satisfaction, adherence, and health. Results indicate that when patients and their doctors share similar beliefs about patient participation, patient outcomes tend to be more positive, with highest satisfaction found in cases in which both patient and physician desire more patient involvement.

The challenge of patient adherence.

Quality healthcare outcomes depend upon patients' adherence to recommended treatment regimens. Patient nonadherence can be a pervasive threat to health and wellbeing and carry an appreciable economic burden as well. In some disease conditions, more than 40% of patients sustain significant risks by misunderstanding, forgetting, or ignoring healthcare advice. While no single intervention strategy can improve the adherence of all patients, decades of research studies agree that successful attempts to improve patient adherence depend upon a set of key factors. These include realistic assessment of patients' knowledge and understanding of the regimen, clear and effective communication between health professionals and their patients, and the nurturance of trust in the therapeutic relationship. Patients must be given the opportunity to tell the story of their unique illness experiences. Knowing the patient as a person allows the health professional to understand elements that are crucial to the patient's adherence: beliefs, attitudes, subjective norms, cultural context, social supports, and emotional health challenges, particularly depression. Physician-patient partnerships are essential when choosing amongst various therapeutic options to maximize adherence. Mutual collaboration fosters greater patient satisfaction, reduces the risks of nonadherence, and improves patients' healthcare outcomes.

The role of effective communication with children and their families in fostering adherence to pediatric regimens.

Adherence to pediatric health enhancement, disease prevention, and medical treatment, particularly for chronic disease, can be challenging because of demanding regimens, children's progressing developmental stages, and varying family perspectives and relationships. This review examines adherence in the context of communication among providers, pediatric patients, and their families. The focus is on: the delivery of prevention and treatment information; trust in the therapeutic relationship; beliefs and attitudes in shaping acceptance of health care messages; social and cultural norms; building patient and family commitment to behavior change; family habits; barriers and pressures faced by patients and their families; the role of social networks and social support in fostering adherence, and the effects of family cohesiveness and family conflict. The unique challenges of fostering preventive health care and treatment for chronic disease in the context of transition to adolescence are also considered, and effective clinical solutions are reviewed.