Abstract
Introduction: Depression is a major
public health issue. One of the concerns in depression research and
practice pertains to non-compliance to prescribed medications. The purpose of
the study was to predict compliance with medication use for patients with
depression using social cognitive theory (SCT). Based on this study it was
envisaged that recommendations for interventions to enhance compliance for
medication use could be developed for patients with depression.
Methods: The study was
conducted using cross sectional design (n=148) in southern United States with a
convenience sample of clinic-based depression patients with a 37-item valid and
reliable questionnaire. Sample size was calculated to be 148 using G*Power
(five predictors with a 0.80 power at the 0.05 alpha level and an estimated
effect size of 0.10 with an inflation by 10% for missing data). Social
cognitive theory constructs of expectations, self-efficacy and self-efficacy in
overcoming barriers, self-control, and environment were reified. Data were
analyzed using multiple linear regression and multiple logistic regression
analyses.
Results: Self-control for
taking medication for depression (P=0.04), expectations for taking medication
for depression (P=0.025), age (P<0.0001) and race (P=0.04) were
significantly related to intent for taking medication for depression (Adjusted
R2 = 0.183). In race, Blacks had lower intent to take medication for
depression.
Conclusion: Social cognitive theory is weakly predictive with
low explained variance for taking medication for depression. It needs to
be bolstered by newer theories like integrative model or multi-theory model of
health behavior change for designing educational interventions aimed at
enhancing compliance to medication for depression.