Caregiver knowledge and adherence in children with sickle cell disease: Knowing is not doing

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings

Department

Psychology

ISSN

1068-9583

Volume

12

Issue

4

DOI

10.1007/s10880-005-7819-8

First Page

333

Last Page

337

Publication Date

1-1-2005

Abstract

Though the impact of disease knowledge on adherence to medical recommendations has long been the focus of research, little of this research has focussed on sickle cell compliance in the child and adolescent population. The present study examined the relationship of caregiver knowledge of sickle cell disease (SCD) and children’s adherence to prescribed behaviors. Though caregivers with high levels of knowledge of SCD were more likely to report higher levels of adherence, knowledge test score did not predict adherence for the majority of participants (72%). The effect of caregiver knowledge on reported adherence was greater among preadolescents (age ≤11) than adolescents (age ≥12). The relationship between knowledge and adherence may not be as strong or direct as is assumed in many theories of health behavior change.

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