Treatment adherence in South African primary healthcare

Patient non-adherence to medical treatment regimens is a pressing problem in South African primary health care. The absence of a cogent research base in the South African context has meant that solutions to the problem of non-adherence continue to elude clinicians. This paper offers an understanding...

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Main Author: A. Kagee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2004-12-01
Series:South African Family Practice
Subjects:
Online Access:https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/143
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author A. Kagee
author_facet A. Kagee
author_sort A. Kagee
collection DOAJ
description Patient non-adherence to medical treatment regimens is a pressing problem in South African primary health care. The absence of a cogent research base in the South African context has meant that solutions to the problem of non-adherence continue to elude clinicians. This paper offers an understanding of patient non-adherence from the perspective of behavioural science. It focuses on the way in which adherence is conceptualised and assessed, and examines the social, economic and psychological factors associated with patient behaviour. Psychological issues that are highlighted as affecting adherence include health locus of control, self-efficacy, psychological morbidity, health literacy and quality of life. Commonly used intervention strategies to enhance treatment adherence are examined and health workers are alerted to the contributions of behavioural science in understanding this aspect of patient behaviour.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 2078-6190
2078-6204
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publishDate 2004-12-01
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series South African Family Practice
spelling doaj-art-3e0ea458f48b4dcabe99591deba61ffb2025-08-20T03:46:57ZengAOSISSouth African Family Practice2078-61902078-62042004-12-01461010.1080/20786204.2004.10873151142Treatment adherence in South African primary healthcareA. Kagee0Stellenbosch UniversityPatient non-adherence to medical treatment regimens is a pressing problem in South African primary health care. The absence of a cogent research base in the South African context has meant that solutions to the problem of non-adherence continue to elude clinicians. This paper offers an understanding of patient non-adherence from the perspective of behavioural science. It focuses on the way in which adherence is conceptualised and assessed, and examines the social, economic and psychological factors associated with patient behaviour. Psychological issues that are highlighted as affecting adherence include health locus of control, self-efficacy, psychological morbidity, health literacy and quality of life. Commonly used intervention strategies to enhance treatment adherence are examined and health workers are alerted to the contributions of behavioural science in understanding this aspect of patient behaviour.https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/143treatment adherenceprimary health caresouth africa
spellingShingle A. Kagee
Treatment adherence in South African primary healthcare
South African Family Practice
treatment adherence
primary health care
south africa
title Treatment adherence in South African primary healthcare
title_full Treatment adherence in South African primary healthcare
title_fullStr Treatment adherence in South African primary healthcare
title_full_unstemmed Treatment adherence in South African primary healthcare
title_short Treatment adherence in South African primary healthcare
title_sort treatment adherence in south african primary healthcare
topic treatment adherence
primary health care
south africa
url https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/143
work_keys_str_mv AT akagee treatmentadherenceinsouthafricanprimaryhealthcare