Chapter 4 Adhering To Medical Advice

According to Prochaska's transtheoretical theory, individuals in the precontemplation stage are not yet considering making any changes to their current behavior. In this case, Morton is unaware of the potential risks associated with his lifestyle choices and has not yet contemplated changing his behavior. Therefore, he is in the precontemplation stage.

The best predictor of a patient's compliance is a physician who explains in detail the procedures that should be undertaken by the patient. This is because when a physician provides clear and thorough explanations, it helps the patient understand the importance of following the recommended procedures. When patients have a clear understanding of what needs to be done and why, they are more likely to comply with the instructions given by the physician. This communication and understanding between the physician and patient greatly influences the patient's compliance.

The attitude "if my medication makes me feel bad, I take it anyway" does not represent a health risk from failure to take prescription medicine according to directions because it shows a willingness to continue taking the medication even if it causes discomfort. This attitude indicates a responsible approach towards following the prescribed course of treatment, which is important for managing health conditions effectively.

Negative reinforcement strengthens behavior. Negative reinforcement occurs when a negative or aversive stimulus is removed or avoided, which increases the likelihood of the behavior being repeated in the future. For example, if a student is allowed to skip a difficult assignment after completing a different task, the behavior of completing the task is strengthened because it is followed by the removal of the aversive assignment.

The research mentioned in the question suggests that individuals with high self-efficacy are more likely to adhere to smoking cessation, exercise regimens, and diabetic diets. This means that they are more likely to stick to these behaviors and not relapse. Self-efficacy, which refers to one's belief in their ability to successfully perform a specific behavior, is seen as an advantage in promoting adherence to these health-related behaviors.

Female physicians tend to ask more questions of their patients compared to male physicians. This could be attributed to various factors such as a greater emphasis on patient-centered care, a desire to gather comprehensive information, or a tendency to establish a stronger rapport with patients. Asking more questions allows female physicians to gather more detailed information about their patients' medical history, symptoms, and concerns, enabling them to provide more accurate diagnoses and personalized treatment plans.

Health psychologists are least involved in determining which medical advice is valid and which is not. This is because their focus is primarily on understanding and promoting behaviors that contribute to health and well-being, rather than evaluating the accuracy or effectiveness of specific medical advice. They are more concerned with factors that predict compliance to medical advice, developing programs to improve compliance, and developing models to explain reasons for noncompliance.

The given statement suggests that when adherence is defined as maintaining a healthy lifestyle, making and keeping appointments with physicians and dentists, and obtaining all the recommended tests and screenings, almost no one is fully adherent. This means that very few people are able to consistently follow all the recommended behaviors and actions for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and seeking regular medical care.

According to Prochaska's transtheoretical model, the proper intervention in this case should be aimed towards convincing Kayla that she has a problem behavior. This is because the model suggests that individuals need to be aware of their problematic behavior before they can take steps to change it. In this case, Kayla's belief that she is too fat despite being underweight is an indication of a distorted body image and potentially an eating disorder. By helping Kayla recognize that her perception is not accurate, she may be more open to receiving help and making changes towards a healthier relationship with food and her body.

Asking the clinician is the least accurate method of assessing rate of compliance because it relies on the clinician's subjective judgment and may not accurately reflect the patient's actual behavior. The clinician may not have all the necessary information or may not be aware of any non-adherence by the patient. Other methods such as asking the patient directly, asking the patient's family, or counting pills provide more objective and reliable measures of compliance.

Verbal punishments are least likely to improve the rate of adherence because they can create a negative and demotivating environment. Punishments may lead to feelings of resentment, fear, or rebellion, which can negatively impact the patient's willingness to adhere to the instructions. In contrast, clear written instructions provide clarity and understanding, verbal rewards can motivate and reinforce positive behavior, and prompts from the patient's spouse can serve as reminders and support.

The correct answer is "a servile yielding to outside pressure." The term "compliance" is being suggested to be replaced by alternative terms because it implies a submissive and passive behavior of yielding to external pressure. This term does not emphasize cooperation or conformity, but rather a reluctant and submissive response to outside influences.

Anxiety has a small effect on failures to comply, meaning that it may only have a minimal impact on a person's ability to follow rules or instructions. On the other hand, depression has a large effect on failures to comply, indicating that it can significantly hinder a person's compliance with rules or instructions.

Older studies found a general rate of noncompliance around 50%, while more recent studies show a rate of 25%. This suggests that over time, the rate of noncompliance has decreased.

The correct answer is "spiral". The transtheoretical model suggests that behavior change and relapse are not linear processes, but rather occur in a cyclical pattern. This means that individuals may progress through stages of change, such as precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance, but may also experience setbacks and relapses along the way. The spiral shape represents the idea that change is not a one-time event, but rather a continuous process with ups and downs.

Living with family and being married are both types of social support that can be beneficial for compliance. Living with family provides emotional and practical support, as well as accountability and encouragement to comply with certain behaviors or rules. Being married also offers similar benefits, as spouses can provide support, motivation, and accountability to each other. Therefore, both living with family and being married can contribute to increased compliance.

The theory of reasoned action suggests that people's behavioral intentions are influenced by their perception of how important other people consider their behavior to be. This means that individuals are more likely to engage in a particular action if they believe that others view it as important. This assumption highlights the social aspect of behavior and the influence of subjective norms on individuals' decision-making process.

Reciprocal determinism is a concept in social cognitive theory that suggests that behavior is influenced by the interaction between personal factors, environmental factors, and behavior itself. Self-efficacy, which refers to an individual's belief in their ability to succeed in specific situations, is an important element of the reciprocal determinism model. It suggests that individuals with high self-efficacy are more likely to engage in certain behaviors and persist in the face of challenges. Therefore, self-efficacy plays a crucial role in the reciprocal determinism model by influencing an individual's behavior and their interaction with their environment.

According to the transtheoretical model, relapse is possible from any stage. This means that individuals can experience a setback and return to their previous unhealthy behaviors at any point in the behavior change process. The model recognizes that change is not always linear and that individuals may go through multiple cycles of relapse and recommitment before successfully adopting a new behavior. Therefore, it is important to provide support and resources to individuals in any stage of change to prevent or address relapse.

The correct answer is "has not been found to exist." This suggests that there is no evidence or research supporting the existence of a noncompliant personality. It implies that there is no established personality trait or characteristic that can be specifically labeled as "noncompliant."

The pill cap microprocessor is an improved variation of the pill count method. This method involves counting the number of pills remaining in a medication bottle to assess the patient's adherence to their prescribed medication. The pill cap microprocessor likely incorporates technology to automatically count and track the number of pills taken, providing a more accurate and convenient way to monitor adherence compared to manual pill counting.

The given statement suggests that the relationship between adherence and age is not a straightforward one. It is not a direct or inverse relationship, where adherence either increases or decreases with age. Instead, it is a curvilinear relationship, which means that adherence to colorectal screening may initially increase with age, reach a peak, and then start to decrease as age continues to increase. This finding from the study conducted by Thomas et al. in 1995 suggests that there may be other factors at play that influence adherence to colorectal screening apart from just age.

The correct answer is "four times a day" because when the prescription requires the patient to take one pill four times a day, it can be more challenging for the patient to remember and adhere to the medication schedule. Taking medication four times a day may also be more inconvenient and disruptive to daily routines, leading to a higher likelihood of noncompliance.

The research conducted on the compliance of children with asthma found that the children themselves identified rewards as the most effective approach. This suggests that using rewards as a behavioral technique can be highly effective in encouraging compliance with asthma treatment in children. It is important to note that this finding may not apply to adolescents, as the research also indicated that rewards did not have the same impact on this age group. However, the research overall supports the effectiveness of using behavioral techniques with an educational component to improve compliance in children with asthma.

An illness with painful symptoms is most likely to elicit compliance with medical advice because the individual experiencing the pain would be motivated to seek treatment and follow the advice given by medical professionals in order to alleviate their discomfort. The presence of pain serves as a strong incentive for individuals to take their illness seriously and adhere to the recommended medical interventions.