Do motivational readiness to change and self-efficacy affect treatment adherence among people with type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a serious chronic condition with high prevalence and a variety of associated medical complications. These circumstances underscore the importance of physician-recommended treatment adherence; yet, the literature suggests that diabetics often do not adhere to the treatment recommendations of their physicians. This cross-sectional study sought to gain a better understanding of the effects of motivational readiness to change, self-efficacy, disease characteristics, and treatment factors on the outcome of treatment adherence. A total of 86 patients with type 2 diabetes and their physician participated in this study. Data were collected for three months. The patients' questionnaire comprised demographic questions, the General Adherence Scale, the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment (URICA), and the Diabetes Management Self-Efficacy Scale. The physician's questionnaire included items that assessed patients' severity of the diabetic condition, motivational readiness to change, and treatment adherence and physician-patient agreement on treatment protocol and the most important treatment recommendation. Multivariate and bivariate statistical procedures were employed to analyze responses from the questionnaires.; Two main hypotheses guided this study: The relationship between disease characteristics and treatment adherence would be moderated by patients' motivational readiness to change and self-efficacy; and the relationship between treatment factors and treatment adherence would be moderated by patients' motivational readiness to change and self-efficacy. Neither of these hypotheses was supported in the analyses; however, the study did reveal positive relationships between motivational readiness to change and self-efficacy and treatment adherence. The findings provide some support for the utilization of treatment techniques that enhance and strengthen patients' motivational readiness to change and self-efficacy in order to improve their treatment adherence.