The role of motivational factors in clinical engagement and adherence.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A study of the role of intrinsic motivation, outcome expectancy and effort perceptions in clinical engagement and adherence to treatment.
IRAS ID
184710
Contact name
Linda Carolina Gaitan Sierra
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Psychological factors play an important role on therapeutic outcome. Gaitan-Sierra & Hyland (2011; 2013; 2014) found that intrinsic motivation and effort perceptions during a therapeutic treatment play an important role in mood change and well-being. In addition, effects of outcome expectancies (i.e., expectations about the potential positive outcomes of treatment) on psychological benefits have been supported in different laboratory and clinical studies where participants have engaged in some sort of therapeutic treatment (e.g.,Miller & Colloca, 2011; Montgomery & Kirsch, 1997; Price et al, 1999). Moreover, unpublished data from our laboratory has shown that providing people simple statements about the potential positive benefits of a therapeutic activity motivates them to engage with a therapeutic treatment and adhere to it. These studies suggest that outcome expectancies and motivational factors might determine the degree of benefit people receive from undertaking a therapeutic treatment. Thus, examining ways to deliver optimal treatment information before a treatment takes place may enhance patients' treatment expectations and their motivation to both initiate and to complete a psychological treatment. There are two aims of this study. The first aim is to examine whether intrinsic motivation, effort perceptions and response expectancies are related to adherence and treatment outcomes (i.e., mood change and perceived benefit). The second aim is to examine whether the provision of a short positive description of a psychotherapeutic treatment could enhance intrinsic motivation, effort perceptions and response expectancies.
REC name
East of Scotland Research Ethics Service REC 1
REC reference
15/ES/0176
Date of REC Opinion
18 Nov 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion