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Applying the theory of planned behavior to examine adjuvant endocrine therapy adherence intentions
Author(s) -
HurtadodeMendoza Alejandra,
Carrera Pilar,
Parrott W. Gerrod,
GómezTrillos Sara,
Perera Robert A.,
Sheppard Vanessa B.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
psycho‐oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.41
H-Index - 137
eISSN - 1099-1611
pISSN - 1057-9249
DOI - 10.1002/pon.4931
Subject(s) - theory of planned behavior , psychosocial , ambivalence , psychology , psychological intervention , survivorship curve , breast cancer , clinical psychology , medicine , social psychology , psychotherapist , cancer , psychiatry , control (management) , management , economics
Objective Adherence to adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) in breast cancer survivors is suboptimal. Using the theory of planned behavior (TPB), this study aimed to identify the strongest predictors from the TPB of AET intentions and past behavior and assessed whether ambivalence and anticipatory emotions increased the predictive capacity of TPB. Methods Two hundred eighty women diagnosed with hormone positive (HR+) breast cancer who filled at least one prescription of AET responded to a survey measuring TPB constructs, attitudinal ambivalence, and anticipatory emotions. The outcomes were intentions to adhere to AET and past medication adherence (previous 2 weeks). Results The TPB explained 66% of intentions to adhere to AET ( P < 0.001). Ambivalence did not improve the TPB model's predictive value. When emotions were included with TPB, the model explained 70% of adherence intentions F 11,226 = 52.84, P < 0.001 ( R 2 c = .70). This increase of 4% in predictability was statistically significant (Δ R 2 = 0.04), F 6, 226 = 7.90, P < 0.001. Women who self‐reported nonadherence in the past 2 weeks differed significantly in the TPB variables, ambivalence, and anticipatory emotions from adherent women. Nonadherent participants reported lower‐future intentions to adhere F 1, 236 = 5.63, P = 0.018. Conclusions Results suggest key concepts, such as anticipatory positive emotions that should be addressed in future interventions to enhance AET adherence and survivorship.