Related Experiment Videos
Association between different types of social support and medication adherence
Danielle Scheurer1, Niteesh Choudhry, Kellie A Swanton
1Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, 135 Rutledge Ave, Rm 1224, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. scheured@musc.edu
The American Journal of Managed Care
|January 5, 2013
Summary
Practical social support, such as help with purchasing and taking medication, is most consistently linked to better medication adherence. Interventions leveraging friends or family may improve patient compliance.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Social Sciences
- Behavioral Medicine
Background:
- Medication adherence is crucial for treatment efficacy.
- Social support is a potential factor influencing patient adherence.
- Understanding the nuances of social support's impact is vital for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the association between various forms of social support and medication adherence.
- To synthesize existing research on the relationship between social support and patient compliance.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search of PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science for studies published before November 2010.
- Inclusion criteria focused on direct measurement of social support and medication adherence.
- Qualitative analysis of 50 selected studies due to heterogeneity in design and outcome measurement.
Main Results:
- Practical social support demonstrated the most consistent association with greater medication adherence.
- Evidence for structural or emotional support's impact on adherence was less compelling.
- Significant variability in study designs and outcome measures limited quantitative synthesis.
Conclusions:
- Practical social support is a key factor associated with improved medication adherence.
- Interventions involving friends or family to assist with medication logistics may enhance adherence.
- Future research should aim for standardized methodologies to enable meta-analysis.
Related Concept Videos
Drug Therapy
The advent of drug therapy has profoundly shaped modern mental health care, providing targeted treatments for a range of psychological disorders. Psychotherapeutic drugs, classified into antianxiety, antidepressant, and antipsychotic medications, address symptoms across anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and schizophrenia. While these medications have transformed patient outcomes, they require careful management due to their potential side effects and limitations.
Antianxiety Medications
Antianxiety Medications
Social Relationships and Well-Being
The significance of social relationships in psychological well-being is a well-established area of inquiry within social psychology. Research consistently demonstrates that the presence of meaningful, supportive relationships enhances emotional health, while the absence or deterioration of such connections can contribute to psychological distress. Relationships serve as a foundation for emotional support, identity, and social belonging, all of which are critical to an individual’s overall...
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques V
A social support system is a structured network of personal relationships that provides assistance to individuals facing various challenges, offering a buffer against psychological and physical stressors. This network may consist of family members, friends, neighbors, colleagues, or other community members who provide resources and companionship. Social support can take many forms, including advice, emotional comfort, practical help, and companionship. Research indicates that these networks can...
Importance of Need for Affiliation
The need for affiliation is a fundamental human motive that drives individuals to form and maintain interpersonal relationships. This universal drive varies in intensity among individuals due to genetic predispositions and life experiences, shaping it into a relatively stable personality trait. Social inclusion enhances emotional well-being by fulfilling the need for affiliation, whereas social exclusion leads to distress, negative emotions, and cognitive impairments.Psychological and Emotional...
Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, a complex psychiatric disorder, has been historically misunderstood. Early psychological theories attributed its origins to childhood trauma and unresponsive parenting. However, contemporary research largely rejects these notions, favoring the vulnerability-stress hypothesis. This model proposes that individuals with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia may develop the disorder following exposure to significant environmental stressors. Notably, studies on high-risk...
Self-Help Support Groups
Self-help support groups are voluntary, community-based organizations that provide a platform for individuals with shared concerns to exchange support, insights, and practical strategies for coping with life challenges. Typically led by group members or paraprofessionals, these groups form a cornerstone of mental health care, especially in reaching populations that are underserved by traditional healthcare systems.
Accessibility and Cost-Effectiveness
One of the primary strengths of self-help...
Accessibility and Cost-Effectiveness
One of the primary strengths of self-help...