Human values and non-adherence to doctors' instructions across Europe

Abstract

This study examines the relationships between human values and patient non-adherence. Two types of non-adherence are studied: non-adherent views and non-adherent behavior in response to doctor's instructions. The study uses data from the European Social Survey Round 2 from 14 countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and Switzerland. Correlation analyses and multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted both using the pooled data from these 14 countries and within countries. The sample size ranged from n=20,012 to n=21,600 in the analyses of pooled data. Human values were found to be associated with non-adherence. As hypothesized, endorsing openness-to-change values (vs. conservation values) was positively related to non-adherent views and behavior.