Promoting adherence to antibiotics: A test of implementation intentions

ObjectiveThis prospective study tested whether implementation intentions increased adherence to short-term antibiotics in a patient sample. Implementation intentions specify exactly when and where an individual will undertake an activity. They may help people achieve health behaviours, such as taking medicines.MethodsA total of 220 patients with an antibiotics prescription were randomly assigned to four groups (control, Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) questionnaire, TPB questionnaire + formed own implementation intention for taking the medicine, TPB questionnaire + researcher formed implementation intention). Participants were telephoned at the end of the course to record adherence. Two hundred and seven participants completed the study.ResultsAt follow-up, adherence was high (75.8% reported no tablets left). Analysis revealed no significant difference in adherence between groups.ConclusionHigh adherence to antibiotics was achieved, but not improved by implementation intentions.Practice implicationsProviding information and telephone follow-up may have been the unintended effective intervention in this study.