A simple experiment to improve adherence for taking the oral contraceptive pill: An exploratory study of behavioural mechanisms

IF 3.5 2区心理学 Q1 PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL

British Journal of Health Psychology Pub Date : 2025-03-03 DOI:10.1111/bjhp.12788

Caitlin Liddelow, Barbara A. Mullan, Mark Boyes

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Abstract

Objectives

Full adherence is imperative to ensure the prevention of unintended pregnancies, which have serious health and financial impacts on women. Previous research has identified the importance of cues (habit-based) and providing information from a credible source (non-habit-based) in facilitating adherence.

Design

A 6 week experiment was developed to increase adherence to the pill (primary outcome) as well as increase habit strength for taking the pill (secondary outcome).

Methods

A sample of Australians who menstruate (N = 77, M_age = 25.18, SD = 3.49) were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: (1) a control group, (2) receiving information from a credible source, (3) implementing a daily cue, and (4) receiving both the information and instructions to implement a cue. At baseline and six-weeks, participants completed two measures of adherence to the pill, and a measure of habit strength.

Results

Mixed-model ANOVAs revealed no significant changes in adherence to the pill across conditions, over time. There was a significant increase in habit strength over time (η2 = .11), across all conditions (η2 = .11). However, these changes did not significantly differ by condition (p = .071).

Conclusions

These findings suggest participating in an experiment, regardless of condition, may make taking the pill more salient and thus increase habit strength. It also suggests that providing information from a credible source nor associating taking the pill with a daily cue substantially increased adherence. However, adherence was positively skewed and therefore these findings need to be further explored with individuals with lower adherence.

Abstract Image

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目标要确保预防意外怀孕，就必须完全坚持避孕，因为意外怀孕会对妇女的健康和经济造成严重影响。以往的研究表明，提示（基于习惯）和从可信来源提供信息（非基于习惯）对促进坚持服药非常重要。设计进行为期 6 周的实验，以提高服用避孕药的依从性（主要结果），并增强服用避孕药的习惯强度（次要结果）。方法将月经期的澳大利亚人样本（N = 77，Mage = 25.18，SD = 3.49）随机分配到四个条件中的一个：(1) 对照组；(2) 接收来自可信来源的信息；(3) 实施每日提示；(4) 同时接收信息和实施提示的说明。在基线和六周的时间里，参与者完成了两项对服药依从性的测量，以及一项对习惯强度的测量。结果混合模型方差分析显示，在不同条件下，服药依从性随时间的推移没有显著变化。随着时间的推移，习惯强度在所有条件下都有明显增加（η2 = .11）。然而，这些变化在不同条件下没有明显差异（p = .071）。结论这些研究结果表明，无论在什么条件下，参与实验都会使服药变得更加突出，从而增强习惯的强度。研究还表明，提供可信来源的信息或将服药与每日提示联系起来都会大大提高坚持率。然而，坚持率是正向倾斜的，因此需要对坚持率较低的个体进一步探讨这些研究结果。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

British Journal of Health Psychology PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL-

CiteScore

14.10

自引率

1.30%

发文量

期刊介绍： The focus of the British Journal of Health Psychology is to publish original research on various aspects of psychology that are related to health, health-related behavior, and illness throughout a person's life. The journal specifically seeks articles that are based on health psychology theory or discuss theoretical matters within the field.