Aspects of patient and clinician language predict adherence to antidepressant medication.

J Am Board Fam Med. 2013 Jul-Aug; 26(4): 409-20
Kaplan JE, Keeley RD, Engel M, Emsermann C, Brody D

Objective: High-quality patient-clinician communication is associated with better medication adherence, but the specific language components associated with adherence are poorly understood. We examined how patient and clinician language may influence adherence.We audio-recorded primary care encounters from 63 patients newly diagnosed with depression and prescribed an antidepressant medication. We rated clinicians’ language (motivational interviewing-adherent statements [MIAs], reflections, and global ratings of empathy and “motivational interviewing spirit”) along with patients’ “change talk” (CT) demonstrating motivation to take medication. Filling a first prescription and an estimate of overall adherence, the proportion of >180 days covered (PDC) (primary outcome), were measured based… Continue reading →