Using the integrated theory of health behavior change to assess factors affecting diabetes medication adherence among black adults during COVID-19: an explanatory sequential mixed methods design.

OBJECTIVES

(1) Evaluate changes in medication adherence and the role of psychosocial and interpersonal factors on adherence. (2) Explain the changes in medication adherence based on patient perceptions of adherence behaviors.

DESIGN

We used an explanatory sequential mixed methods design for surveys at baseline and 1-year follow-up, followed by interviews. The Integrated Theory of Health Behavior Change guided the design of a questionnaire including self-reported measures of medication adherence, psychosocial factors such as illness and medication beliefs, self-efficacy, and depressive symptoms, interpersonal factors including social support and patient-provider communication, and socio-demographic and clinical factors. A convenience sample ( = 228) of adult patients with type 2 diabetes who self-identified as Black/African American completed the mail/telephone surveys. Nine semi-structured interviews were conducted with respondents of both surveys who had changes in medication adherence. Descriptive, mean differential, bivariate correlational analyses, and content analysis was conducted. Data integration merged quantitative and qualitative results as a joint display.

RESULTS

Response rates for the baseline and follow-up survey were 28% and 47% respectively. Medication adherence scores were significantly correlated with illness perceptions ( = .30) and depression ( = .25) at baseline, and self-efficacy ( = -.51) and depression ( = .37) at follow-up. Qualitative themes included patient perceptions of adherence behaviors, impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, health literacy and self-efficacy. Mixed methods integration showed contrasting perceptions of the same themes including adherence behaviors, medication beliefs, social support, and patient-provider communication among participants whose medication adherence increased and decreased overtime.

CONCLUSION

Self-efficacy, diabetes beliefs, and depressive symptoms were key psychosocial factors that affected medication adherence among Blacks/African Americans. Contrasting perceptions of beliefs in medicines, social support, provider relationships and communication among increased and decreased adherence participant groups explained the changes in adherence, which can be used to adapt existing interventions.