"When no means no": can reactance augment the theory of planned behavior?
1Department of Psychology, University of Essex, Colchester, United Kingdom. sorbell@essex.ac.uk
Summary
Predicting women's clinic follow-up is possible using the theory of planned behavior. Incorporating reactance, a measure of volitional control, further improved predictions for consistent cervical screening attendance.
Area of Science:
- Health Psychology
- Behavioral Medicine
- Gynecological Health
Background:
- Abnormal cervical screening results necessitate timely treatment and follow-up care.
- Understanding factors influencing patient adherence to medical appointments is crucial for effective healthcare delivery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the predictive power of the theory of planned behavior on women's clinic attendance for follow-up after abnormal cervical screening.
- To investigate the role of low volitional control (reactance) in predicting appointment keeping.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study involving 660 women who received abnormal cervical screening results.
- Questionnaire measures assessed theory of planned behavior variables and reactance.
- Appointment attendance was tracked for up to 3 subsequent appointments over 15 months.
Main Results:
- The theory of planned behavior successfully predicted persistent attendance.
- It differentiated between women who attended all appointments and those who dropped out.
- Including reactance enhanced prediction and distinguished between delayed and ceased attendance.
Conclusions:
- The theory of planned behavior is a valuable framework for understanding adherence to cervical cancer follow-up care.
- Reactance is an important factor that influences appointment keeping and should be considered in interventions.
- These findings can inform strategies to improve patient retention in gynecological screening follow-up programs.
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