Motivational interviewing for adherence problems in cystic fibrosis; evaluation of training healthcare professionals

A call for action: Educating pharmacists and pharmacy students in behaviour change techniques

The increasing impact of chronic disease, including cancer and heart disease on mortality signifies a need for the upskilling of health professionals in health behaviour change. Solely providing education and information to patients is generally not sufficient to change behaviour, and for any change to be sustained. The nature of pharmaceutical practice allows pharmacists to have frequent contact with patients in the community. Historically, pharmacists have often effectively engaged with patients to assist with behaviour change initiatives related to smoking cessation, weight loss or medication adherence. Unfortunately, such initiatives do not work for everyone, and more tailored and varied interventions are urgently needed to reduce the effects of chronic disease. In addition, with greater inaccessibility to hospitals and GP's (e.g., appointment wait times), it is imperative that pharmacists are upskilled in providing opportunistic health behaviour change techniques and interventions. Pharmacists need to practice to their full scope consistently and confidently, including the use of behavioural interventions. The following commentary therefore describes and provides recommendations for the upskilling of pharmacists and pharmacy students in opportunistic behaviour change. We outline nine key evidence-based behaviour change techniques, the active-ingredients of a behaviour change intervention, that are relevant to common encounters in professional practice by pharmacists, such as improving adherence to medications/treatments and health promotion initiatives. These include social support (practical and emotional), problem solving, anticipated regret, habit formation, behaviour substitution, restructuring the environment, information about others' approval, pros and cons, and monitoring and providing feedback on behaviour. Recommendations are then provided for how this upskilling can be taught to pharmacists and pharmacy students, as well as how they can use these techniques in their everyday practice.

Understanding motivation for Australian adolescents and young adults with cystic fibrosis: Modifiable factors to support self-management

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is Australia's most common life limiting genetic condition, characterised by declining health and quality of life (QoL) over time. Despite improvements in treatment, there remains no cure. Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with CF experience broad impacts to psychosocial functioning and QoL, as well as major transitions in care, all at a time of significant developmental change. The importance of developmentally tailored approaches to youth health care and self-management for young people with CF are well understood. However, to date, models of youth specific self-management have been lacking and motivation for young people with CF has not been well explored. This qualitative study, based on a social constructionist epistemological framework, addresses this gap. A total of 21 AYAs aged 15-30 years were recruited through one paediatric and one adult Australian CF centre. Demographic, clinical and distress data were captured to describe health complexity. Semi-structured interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Participants were representative of Australian AYAs with CF by demography and clinical status. Alarmingly, over a third reported clinically significant distress. Two themes emerged. The first Identified impacts to motivation and self-management resulting from the challenges of managing CF, life and care. These included time and competing priorities, changing health statis, mental health, social factors, unmet needs and health system complexity. The second identified factors that support motivation including: achievement, meaning and purpose; consequence avoidance; and accountability. These results illustrate the importance of AYA specific, theoretically founded, holistic self-management models which extend beyond current theoretical approaches that aim to understand behaviour change or address barriers, in isolation from motivation. Improved approaches to care based on these findings are essential to foster positive behavioural change, support self-management and foster the best health outcomes for young people living with CF.

Effects of Motivational Interviewing on Treatment Adherence among Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND

Treatment non-adherence is a leading cause of rehospitalization among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Motivational interviewing is a client-centered participatory counseling strategy which enhances motivation for change. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of motivational interviewing on treatment adherence among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This randomized controlled clinical trial was done on 54 hospitalized patients using a two-group repeated measures design. Patients in the intervention group (n=27) received motivational interviewing and lifestyle-related educations, while their counterparts in the comparison group (n=27) solely received lifestyle-related educations. Treatment adherence was measured before, one month, and two months after the intervention.

RESULTS

At baseline, there was no significant difference between the groups regarding treatment adherence (P>0.05); however, one and two months after the intervention, between-group differences regarding treatment adherence were statistically significant (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Motivational interviewing promotes treatment adherence among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Delphi poll to assess consensus on issues influencing long-term adherence to treatments in cystic fibrosis among Italian health care professionals

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to determine the level of consensus among Italian health care professionals (HCPs) regarding factors that influence adherence to cystic fibrosis (CF) treatments.

METHODS

A Delphi questionnaire with 94 statements of potential factors influencing adherence was developed based on a literature review and in consultation with a board of experts (n=4). This was distributed to a multidisciplinary expert panel of HCPs (n=110) from Italian CF centers. A Likert scale was used to indicate the level of agreement (1= no agreement to 9= maximum agreement) with each statement. Three rounds were distributed to establish a consensus (≥80% of participant ratings within one 3-point region) and, at the third round, assign a ranking to each statement with a high level of agreement (consensus in the 7-9 range) only.

RESULTS

Of 110 HCPs (from 31 Italian CF centers who were surveyed), responses were obtained from 85 (77%) in the first, 78 (71%) in the second, and 72 (65%) in the third round. The highest degree of agreement (95.8%) was reached with the statement that the HCP needs to build a relationship with the patient to influence adherence. A high level of agreement was not reached for statements that morbidity and mortality are influenced by the level of adherence to therapy, and no consensus was reached on the statement that age of the patient influences adherence to treatment.

CONCLUSION

We found that Italian HCPs endorsed a strong relationship with the patient as being a key driver in improving adherence. There were several areas, such as the influence of adherence on morbidity and mortality, where the consensus of Italian HCPs differed from the published literature. These areas require investigation to determine why these discrepancies exist.

Managing treatment fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis on long-term therapy: the role of multiple sclerosis nurses

This article discusses the many ways that nurses can address the factors that lead to treatment fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) on long-term disease-modifying therapy, ultimately helping to preserve the patient's health and quality of life. Patients with MS on long-term therapy may suffer from treatment fatigue and poor adherence due to a variety of different factors, including difficulties with injections, anxiety/depression, financial problems, and inaccurate beliefs about the MS disease process. Because MS nurses have regular interactions with patients, they are ideally situated to help patients cope with these and other factors that may limit adherence.