'All illness is personal to that individual': A qualitative study of patients' perspectives on treatment adherence in bronchiectasis

Amanda R. McCullough, Michael M. Tunney, J. Stuart Elborn, Judy M. Bradley, Carmel M. Hughes*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

21 Citations (Scopus)
56 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background Adherence to treatment is low in bronchiectasis and is associated with poorer health outcomes. Factors affecting adherence decisions have not been explored in patients with bronchiectasis.

Objective We aimed to explore patients' perspectives on adherence, factors affecting adherence decision making and to develop a conceptual model explaining this decision-making process in adults with bronchiectasis.

Methods Adults with bronchiectasis participated in one-to-one semi-structured interviews. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed independently by two researchers using thematic analysis. Data from core themes were extracted, categorized into factors affecting adherence decision making and used to develop the conceptual model.

Results Participants' beliefs about treatment, the practical aspects of managing treatment, their trust in health-care professionals and acceptance of disease and treatment were important aspects of treatment adherence. The conceptual model demonstrated that adherence decisions were influenced by participants' individual balance of barriers and motivating factors (treatment-related, disease-related, health-care-related, personal and social factors).

Conclusion Adherence decision-making in bronchiectasis is complex, but there is the potential to enhance adherence by understanding patients' specific barriers and motivators to adherence and using this to tailor adherence strategies to individual patients and treatments.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2477-2488
Number of pages12
JournalHealth Expectations
Volume18
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2015
Externally publishedYes

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