Date of Award

Spring 2012

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology

First Advisor

Melchert, Timothy

Second Advisor

Longo, Lance

Third Advisor

Edwards, Lisa

Abstract

Each year in the United States, over 4 million people aged 12 or older are treated for substance use disorders, and a growing percentage of those being treated are suffering from opiate addiction. Research suggests that many variables should be considered in a biopsychosocial approach to treating substance use disorders, and especially when treating opiate addiction. Two of the variables that show a strong correlation with positive treatment outcomes are self-efficacy and medication adherence. Buprenorphine is a relatively new medication that has shown significant efficacy is treatment of opiate addiction. Successful treatment also requires appropriate adherence to taking buprenorphine as prescribed. The impact of self-efficacy on medication adherence is unknown, however. To date, there is no assessment designed to measure self-efficacy for medication adherence to buprenorphine.

This study adapted the Self-Efficacy for Medication Adherence - Hypertension scale into the Self-Efficacy for Medication Adherence - Buprenorphine (SEMA-B). A panel of psychiatrists and past Buprenorphine patients reviewed the SEMA-B for face validity. Subtle changes were made to the assessment after this review. Data to evaluate the psychometric properties of the new assessment were then gathered from 121 patients in an opiate recovery program. The results suggest that the SEMA-B has adequate internal consistency and temporal stability, and that it is comprised of multiple underlying factors related to specific aspects of maintain buprenorphine treatment for opioid addiction.

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