Empirical Validation of the
Information–Motivation–
Behavioral Skills Model of Diabetes
Medication Adherence:
A Framework for Intervention
Diabetes Care 2014;37:1246–1253 | DOI: 10.2337/dc13-1828
OBJECTIVE
Suboptimal adherence to diabetes medications is prevalent and associated with
unfavorable health outcomes, but it remains unclear what intervention content is
necessary to effectively promote medication adherence in diabetes. In other
disease contexts, the Information–Motivation–Behavioral skills (IMB) model has
effectively explained and promoted medication adherence and thus may have
utility in explaining and promoting adherence to diabetesmedications. We tested
the IMB model’s hypotheses in a sample of adults with type 2 diabetes.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
Participants (N = 314) completed an interviewer-administered survey and A1C test.
Structural equation models tested the effects of diabetes medication adherencerelated
information, motivation, and behavioral skills on medication adherence and
the effect of medication adherence on A1C.
RESULTS
The IMB elements explained 41% of the variance in adherence, and adherence
explained 9% of the variance in A1C. As predicted, behavioral skills had a direct
effect on adherence (b = 0.59; P < 0.001) and mediated the effects of information
(indirect effect 0.08 [0.01–0.15]) and motivation (indirect effect 0.12 [0.05–0.20])
on adherence.Medication adherence significantly predicted glycemic control (b =
20.30; P < 0.001). Neither insulin status nor regimen complexity was associated
with adherence, and neither moderated associations between the IMB constructs
and adherence.
CONCLUSIONS
The results support the IMB model’s predictions and identify modifiable and
intervenable determinants of diabetes medication adherence. Medication adherence
promotion interventions may benefit from content targeting patients’ medication
adherence-related information, motivation, and behavioral skills and
assessing the degree to which change in these determinants leads to changes in
medication adherence behavior