Abstract
AIM OF THIS DOCUMENT
This roadmap aims to support health officials to consider changes to medication adherence which may have occurred since the Covid-19 pandemic and to use psychologically-informed behaviour change approaches to optimise treatment. This guidance should be used alongside Public Health England’s (PHE) Achieving Behaviour Change (ABC) guide 1 for local government and partners and the Improving People’s Health behavioural and social science strategy 2.
BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE RECOMMENDATIONS
Medication adherence relies on people being able to access and use medication which they are motivated to take. It is influenced by what they know and what they can do (capability); people around them and their physical environment (opportunity); and their beliefs, what they want, how they see themselves, how they regulate emotion, and habit (motivation).
To support changes since Covid-19:
• Consider whether any disruption to daily routines, finances, access to medicines or healthcare and/or social support may make medication adherence more challenging and, where needed, proactively put in place strategies and access to support and
services to mitigate these effects.
• Provide resources to address concerns about medication shortages and worries about potential increased risks of taking or not taking treatment.
• Support planning in how to continue to adhere to medication in the event of unpredictable disruptions (e.g. provide information on prescription delivery services in case of need for self-isolation).
• Take the opportunity to offer additional support with medication adherence, particularly if taking medication to optimise health feels more important since Covid-19.
• Given increased use of remote access to clinical care, consider adopting methods to enable remote-monitoring of health including methods to measure and share adherence data with clinical teams so that they can identify and support those who may be having difficulties with medication adherence.
We recommend following the British Psychological Society’s Behavioural Science and Disease Prevention: Psychological guidance3 to shape any policy and communications strategy.
This roadmap aims to support health officials to consider changes to medication adherence which may have occurred since the Covid-19 pandemic and to use psychologically-informed behaviour change approaches to optimise treatment. This guidance should be used alongside Public Health England’s (PHE) Achieving Behaviour Change (ABC) guide 1 for local government and partners and the Improving People’s Health behavioural and social science strategy 2.
BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE RECOMMENDATIONS
Medication adherence relies on people being able to access and use medication which they are motivated to take. It is influenced by what they know and what they can do (capability); people around them and their physical environment (opportunity); and their beliefs, what they want, how they see themselves, how they regulate emotion, and habit (motivation).
To support changes since Covid-19:
• Consider whether any disruption to daily routines, finances, access to medicines or healthcare and/or social support may make medication adherence more challenging and, where needed, proactively put in place strategies and access to support and
services to mitigate these effects.
• Provide resources to address concerns about medication shortages and worries about potential increased risks of taking or not taking treatment.
• Support planning in how to continue to adhere to medication in the event of unpredictable disruptions (e.g. provide information on prescription delivery services in case of need for self-isolation).
• Take the opportunity to offer additional support with medication adherence, particularly if taking medication to optimise health feels more important since Covid-19.
• Given increased use of remote access to clinical care, consider adopting methods to enable remote-monitoring of health including methods to measure and share adherence data with clinical teams so that they can identify and support those who may be having difficulties with medication adherence.
We recommend following the British Psychological Society’s Behavioural Science and Disease Prevention: Psychological guidance3 to shape any policy and communications strategy.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Place of Publication | Leicester |
Publisher | British Psychological Society |
Number of pages | 10 |
Publication status | Published - 2 Aug 2022 |