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Abstract
Objective: To examine correlates and predictors of adolescent and parent reported adherence to prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications in a pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease sample (IBD). Method: Eighty-three adolescents and their parents completed measures of medication adherence and adolescent and family factors hypothesized to be related to medication adherence while attending an appointment with the adolescents pediatric gastroenterologist. Results: Hierarchical regression analyses identified unique predictors of adolescent and parent reported adherence to both prescription and OTC medications. Adolescents who had been diagnosed longer with IBD, reported a lack of autonomous motivation adhere, and reported high levels of involvement in managing their own disease demonstrated poorer adherence. Longer time since diagnosis and greater parent perceived conflict predicted poorer parent reported adherence, whereas greater maternal involvement in the medical regimen predicted better parent reported adherence. Conclusions: Results suggest key adolescent and familial factors to address in interventions aimed at improving adherence.