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Patient attitudes toward weight gain with medications
Randy A Sansone1, Lori A Sansone, George A Gaither
1Department of Psychiatry, Wright State University School of Medicine in Dayton, OH, USA. Randy.sansone@kmcnetwork.org
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to examine patient attitudes toward weight gain with medications under 4 conditions-medical vs psychiatric and life-threatening vs non-life-threatening.
Method:
In a suburban primary care practice, 241 patients completed surveys that explored the 4 study conditions and the amount of weight, from 0 to 20 or more pounds, willing to be gained on medication.
Results:
Participants were willing to gain an average of 5.51 lb for a non-life-threatening medical condition, 5.37 lb for a non-life-threatening psychiatric condition, 13.30 lb for a life-threatening medical condition, and 12.70 lb for a life-threatening psychiatric condition. Participants were willing to gain significantly more weight with a medical vs psychiatric condition and with a life-threatening vs non-life-threatening condition. There were no significant gender differences in responses.
Conclusions:
There appear to be distinct patterns of acceptability of weight gain with medications. This information may enhance prescribers' ability to strategize medication compliance among patients.