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Compliance with Relaxation Training: the Effect of Providing Information

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 June 2009

Gerald Bennett
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Psychology, Rochdale Health Authority, Birch Hill Hospital, Rochdale, 0L12 9QB
Mark Millard
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Manchester University, Oxford Road, Manchester

Extract

In order to test its effect on compliance with recommended practice of relaxation training, patients in anxiety management training groups were provided with additional information about the procedure and its rationale. After an introductory training session all subjects were provided with audiotaped relaxation instructions to use for three weeks until the second group meeting. Additional information was provided either as an audiotaped message at the end of the relaxation instructions (“Message”) or as a printed leaflet (“Leaflet”). In a 2 × 2 factorial experiment 32 subjects were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: (1) Message, (2) Leaflet, (3) Message and Leaflet, (4) Basic Programme alone. Neither manipulation had an effect on self-reported frequency of practice during the three weeks (which was high), but both increased subjects' knowledge of the treatment and also their satisfaction with it. Subjects receiving the message were significantly less likely to drop out of treatment during the remainder of the 16-weeks group programme. Compliance was predicted by subjects' perceptions of the severity of their condition but not by their knowledge, satisfaction or state anxiety.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 1985

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