Adherence To Long Term Therapies

This report is based on an exhaustive review of the published literature on the definitions, measurements, epidemiology, economics and interventions applied to nine chronic conditions and risk factors.

How can we accept that we ought to stop smoking, follow a diet, exercise, or take medications? The goal of this book is to describe the mechanisms of patients’ adherence to long-term therapies, whose improvement, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), would be more beneficial than any biomedical progress. For example, approximately half of the patients do not regularly follow medical prescriptions, resulting in deleterious effects on people’s health and a strong impact on health expenditure. This book describes how our beliefs, desires, and emotions intervene in our choices concerning our health, by referring to concepts developed within the framework of the philosophy of mind. In particular, it tries to explain how we can choose between an immediate pleasure and a remote reward—preserving our health and our life. We postulate that such an “intertemporal” choice can be directed by a “principle of foresight” which leads us to give priority to the future. Just like patients’ non-adherence to prescribed medications, doctors often don’t always do what they should: They are non-adherent to good practice guidelines. We propose that what was recently de-scribed as “clinical inertia” could also represent a case of myopia: From time to time doctors fail to consider the long-term interests of their patient. Both patients’ non-adherence and doctors’ clinical inertia represent major barriers to the efficiency of care. However, it is also necessary to respect patients’ autonomy. The analysis of relationship between mind and care which is provided in this book sheds new light on the nature of the therapeutic alliance between doctor and patient, solving the dilemma between the ethical principles of beneficence and autonomy.

In the field of pain medicine, the interventions that can improve a patient's pain, mood, and functionality are only as effective as the patient's willingness to follow recommended treatment plans. Facilitating Treatment Adherence in Pain Medicine provides a practical guide to understanding and improving patient adherence with regards to both opioid and non-opioid pharmacotherapy, pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic pain interventions, and use of biometrics and behavioral techniques. The book also explores the ethics of dealing with patients who are non-adherent. Facilitating Treatment Adherence in Pain Medicine is the first book to address the obstacle patient non-adherence poses to reaching therapeutic goals in pain medicine, making it an ideal resource for pain physicians and primary care physicians who manage patients with chronic pain.

Health psychology is a rapidly expanding discipline at the interface of psychology and clinical medicine. This new edition is fully reworked and revised, offering an entirely up-to-date, comprehensive, accessible, one-stop resource for clinical psychologists, mental health professionals and specialists in health-related matters. There are two new editors: Susan Ayers from the University of Sussex and Kenneth Wallston from Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The prestigious editorial team and their international, interdisciplinary cast of authors have reconceptualised their much-acclaimed handbook. The book is now in two parts: part I covers psychological aspects of health and illness, assessments, interventions and healthcare practice. Part II covers medical matters listed in alphabetical order. Among the many new topics added are: diet and health, ethnicity and health, clinical interviewing, mood assessment, communicating risk, medical interviewing, diagnostic procedures, MMR, HRT, sleep disorders, and skin disorders.

This easy-access guide summarizes the dynamic specialty of rehabilitation psychology, focusing on real-world practice in the medical setting. It begins by placing readers at the frontlines of practice with a solid foundation for gathering information and communicating effectively with patients, families, and staff. The book’s topics run a wide gamut of patient conditions (neurological, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular), related problems (sleep and fatigue issues, depression) and practitioner responses (encouraging coping and compliance, pediatric and geriatric considerations). Models of disability and adaptation, review of competency concerns, and guidelines for group and individual therapy offer evidence-based insights for helping patients manage their health conditions, benefit from rehabilitation interventions, and prepare for their post-rehabilitation lives and activities. Coverage spotlights these core areas: ·Basics and biopsychosocial practicalities, from behavioral medicine and psychopharmacology to ethical and forensic issues. ·Populations, problems, and procedures, including stroke, TBI, substance abuse, transplants, and severe mental illness. ·Assessment and practical interventions such as pain, anxiety, cognitive functioning, and more. ·Consultation, advocacy, and interdisciplinary teams. ·Practice management, administration, and professional self-care. ·Research, technology, and program evaluation. Practical Psychology in Medical Rehabilitation is an essential professional development tool for novice (and a refresher for veteran) psychologists and neuropsychologists, as well as rehabilitation physicians, nurses, therapists, psychiatrists, and social workers. It presents in depth both the hallmarks of the specialty and the nuts and bolts of being a valuable team player in a medical setting.

This title synthesizes the results from more than 50 years of empirical research, resulting in simple, powerful, and practical guidance for health professionals who want to know the most effective strategies for helping their clients to put long-term health-relevant behaviour changes into practice.