CONTINGENCY MANAGEMENT OF ADHERENCE TO A COMPLEX MEDICAL REGIMEN IN AN ELDERLY HEART PATIENT

This research sought to determine whether token reinforcement could improve an elderly heart patient's adherence to his complex medical regimen. Using a multiple-baseline and reversal single-case experimental design, it was demonstrated that the reinforcement contingency was responsible for increasing his walking to more than twice per day, consumption of orange juice to an average of almost three glasses per day, and consumption of three separate pills three times per day. A cessation of angina and an improvement in family relationships also occurred. © 1979 Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy.