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Updated: Jun 17, 2026

E-Patient Counseling Trial (E-PACO): Computer Based Education versus Nurse Counseling for Patients to Prepare for Colonoscopy
Published on: August 1, 2019
Telephone nurse counseling for medication adherence in ulcerative colitis: a preliminary study
Paul F Cook1, Suzie Emiliozzi, Dana El-Hajj
1University of Colorado Denver, College of Nursing, Aurora, CO 80045, USA. Paul.Cook@ucdenver.edu
Objective:
Adherence is challenging in episodic chronic conditions that require medication during both symptomatic and quiescent periods, such as ulcerative colitis (UC). Adherence for these conditions is under-studied. This study was a preliminary test of telephone nurse counseling to address cognitive and emotional barriers to adherence in UC.
Methods:
524 people taking mesalamine for UC were referred by their health care providers, and 278 (53%) enrolled. There were no demographic differences between program participants and nonparticipants. Participants reported multiple comorbidities and concomitant medications. All participants received telephone follow-up (M = 2.1 calls) from a registered nurse who used cognitive-behavioral and motivational interviewing counseling techniques. Adherence measured by structured interview was compared to a population baseline using a binomial test.
Results:
Attrition was 51% over 6 months but was unrelated to adherence. Participants had better adherence than the expected population rate, with a significant dose-response effect. Reasons for nonadherence were primarily psychological or efficacy-related.
Conclusion:
Adherence following intervention was better than typical mesalamine adherence. Self-efficacy predicted adherence, but demographic and clinical variables did not. Adherent participants reported more adverse events.
Practice Implications:
Attention to patients' cognitive and emotional reactions may help to improve adherence in episodic chronic diseases such as UC.
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