Physicians' characteristics influence patients' adherence to medical treatment: Results from the Medical Outcomes Study.

TLDR

The study examined how physicians’ attributes and practice style influence patients’ adherence to treatment over two years among 186 physicians and their diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease patients. A physician‑level analysis controlling for baseline adherence and patient characteristics assessed general adherence and adherence to medication, exercise, and diet recommendations. Baseline adherence predicted 2‑year adherence, and additional predictors included physician job satisfaction, patient load, follow‑up scheduling, question‑answering, test ordering, illness seriousness, specialty, and patient health distress.

Abstract

The influence of physicians' attributes and practice style on patients' adherence to treatment was examined in a 2-year longitudinal study of 186 physicians and their diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease patients. A physician-level analysis was conducted, controlling for baseline patient adherence rates and for patient characteristics predictive of adherence in previous analyses. General adherence and adherence to medication, exercise, and diet recommendations were examined. Baseline adherence rates were associated with adherence rates 2 years later. Other predictors were physician job satisfaction (general adherence), number of patients seen per week (medication), scheduling a follow-up appointment (medication), tendency to answer patients' questions (exercise), number of tests ordered (diet), seriousness of illness (diet), physician specialty (medication, diet), and patient health distress (medication, exercise).