Medication non-adherence is a ‘worldwide problem of striking magnitude' which diminishes treatment effect and costs an estimated $290 billion annually to the US healthcare system. Numerous factors are thought to influence whether a patient decides to adhere to their prescribed medication regimen. The theory of planned behaviour has commonly been used to conceptualise medication adherence as a health behaviour2 and thus a patient's perception of their prescribed medication and the extent to which it is acceptable may influence their attitude towards adherence.

Reports regarding factors influencing patient perception and acceptability of medicines are dominated by industry funded clinical trials and thus little independent research evidence is available. With scientific advances, variation in medication characteristics has increased dramatically. Variations in formulation include tablets, capsules, gels and melts. Variations in dosing frequency are now achievable through sustained release preparations and taste masking techniques have been refined. Prescribers are therefore no longer faced with selecting the most appropriate drug but also, potentially, the most appropriate preparation. There is therefore a need for independent research to inform the discussions that prescribers may need to incorporate into prescribing consultations and explore any relationship between patient perception of a medication and subsequent adherence to therapy. 

This PhD will involve both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies in order to address the research questions. Applicants with a background in either psychology or healthcare are invited to apply.

(i) World Health Organisation. Adherence to long term therapies: evidence for action. Geneva: World Health Organisation; 2003.
(ii) Ajzen, I., From intentions to actions; a theory of planned behaviour, in Action - Control: from cognition to behaviour, J. Kuhl, Beckmann, J, Editor 1985, Springer-Verlag: Heidelberg.