Can illness beliefs, from the common sense model, prospectively predict adherence to self management behaviours? A systematic review and meta analysis
Objective: To determine whether people's beliefs about their illness, conceptualised by the common sense model (CSM) can prospectively predict adherence to self management behaviours (including, attendance, medication, diet and exercise) in adults with acute and chronic physical illnesses. Design and Main Outcome Measures: Electronic databases were searched in September 2014, for papers specifying the use of the 'CSM' in relation to 'self management' 'rehabilitation' and 'adherence' in the context of physical illness. Six hundred abstracts emerged. Data from 52 relevant studies were extracted. Twenty one studies were meta analysed, using correlation coefficients in random effects models. The remainder were descriptively synthesised. Results: The effect sizes for individual illness belief domains and adherence to self management behaviours ranged from .04 to .13, indicating very weak, predictive relationships. Further analysis revealed that predictive relationships did not differ by the: type of self management behaviour; acute or chronic illness; or duration of follow up. Conclusion: Individual illness belief domains, outlined by the CSM, did not predict adherence to self management behaviours in adults with physical illnesses. Prospective relationships, controlling for past behaviour, also did not emerge. Other factors, including patients' treatment beliefs and inter relationships between individual illness beliefs domains, may have influenced potential associations with adherence to self management behaviours.
Psychology health