Behavioral Strategies to Promote Adherence

Children with chronic medical conditions experience a host of symptoms, such as fatigue, pain, inattentiveness, and stress, that may affect their ability to be fully participatory in school, peer, and family activities. Nearly half of individuals with chronic conditions display some noncompliance to treatment recommendations for their condition that may adversely affect educational, social, health, and other outcomes. This chapter addresses the promotion of adherence and positive health behavior through adoption of behavior intervention plans. It includes an overview of the social significance of treatment compliance and positive health behaviors and then identifies how behavior intervention plans can be used to address these issues in the school setting. It includes a review of factors that promote development and implementation of successful intervention plans (e.g., specific goals and targets, behavioral expectations, and measurement of treatment response). A sample interview to guide behavior intervention planning is provided.