It used to be called noncompliance, and the patients themselves
referred to as difficult. But regardless of the terminology,
children's reluctance or failure to commit to prescribed regimens
reduces the effectiveness of treatment, often leading to additional
care, higher costs, and serious, even deadly, complications.
Reflecting a single, authoritative voice, the Second Edition of
Adherence to Pediatric Medical Regimens analyzes in comprehensive
clinical detail the factors that affect children's and teens' commitment
to treatment - from developmental issues to the influence of parents,
peers, and others in their orbit - and offers empirically sound
guidelines for encouraging adherence. It cautions against viewing young
clients as miniature grownups or scaling down adult data, advocating
instead for a more nuanced understanding of the population and a
collaborative relationship between practitioner and client.
Critical areas of interest to clinicians and researchers in pediatrics
are brought into clear focus as the book:
- Provides an overview of adherence rates to chronic and acute disease
regimens and examines common adherence problems in children and
adolescents.
- Details consequences of nonadherence and correlates of adherence.
- Critiques major adherence theories and their clinical implications.
- Discusses the range of adherence assessment measures.
- Reviews educational, behavioral and other strategies for improving
adherence.
- Offers ways to translate research into pediatric medical adherence.
This updated edition of Adherence to Pediatric Medical Regimens is an
essential reference for anyone concerned with improving health outcomes
in young people, especially clinicians, researchers, and graduate
students in psychiatry as well as pediatric, clinical child, and health
psychology.
