Cardio Metabolic

The impact of Patient Support Programs on adherence: enhancing engagement and improving effectiveness

Patient Support Programs are designed to boost adherence Patient Support Programs (PSPs) employ a variety of techniques to help patients follow their treatment and deal with their conditions.1 Some are purely informative and provide practical information to patients on topics such as disease management and drug management (especially for complex drugs), etc. The channels through…

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Explaining non-adherence – The Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, and Behavior (COM-B) framework

There are many reasons, some modifiable, that patients do not adhere to cardiovascular-disease treatments, therefore, a comprehensive framework for assessing and understanding adherence is needed1 The COM-B system is a framework for understanding behavior that has been applied to adherence, encompassing Capability, Opportunity and Motivation2,3 COM-B allows  for a precise understanding of the relationship between…

Cardio Metabolic

Personalization of adherence support with Patient Support Programs (PSPs): the advent of the digital era

PSPs are behavioral interventions for improving adherence Patient Support Programs, or PSPs, can range from simple calendar pill boxes or pill blister packaging, to organized programs based on behavioral science frameworks.1,2 They can either be provided directly by the physician’s office or via sponsored programs. They are designed to support patients in being comfortable with…

Cardio Metabolic

Using tools to assess patient adherence

Measures and survey tools are useful for characterizing patient health behavior Quantitative methods are useful for characterizing health behavior and supporting patients in the self-management of their conditions. Surveys and questionnaires have the advantages of being easy to implement at the point of care and being acceptable to patients.1 They provide explicit examples and information…

Cardio Metabolic

The role of beliefs in non-adherence

Beliefs have a strong influence over a patient’s motivation to adhere to treatment These include patient beliefs about their illness, their treatment and their own capacity for adhering (self-efficacy) It is vital that clinicians assess patients individually to understand their beliefs and motivations, supporting them in adhering to their medication regimens Beliefs have an important…

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Understanding adherence from a cardiovascular-disease perspective

Adherence is a behavior that encompasses the patient, the healthcare provider and the ability to follow agreed recommendations e.g., dietary changes and exercise Adherence comprises multiple stages and can be divided into intentional or non-intentional behaviors There are a variety of factors that influence one’s ability to adhere, extending from the initial consultation through to…

Cardio Metabolic

The adherence challenge in cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of mortality globally, and disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries Around 40-50% of patients with cardiovascular disease demonstrate poor or non-adherence to their treatment regimen. This can have a detrimental impact on not only the individual, but also the wider community Adherence as a behavior requires the understanding and…

Cardio Metabolic
A family with an elderly man enjoying a birthday celebration.

Culture, food, and defiance of medical advice in cardiovascular care

Cardiovascular diseases are primarily lifestyle-associated illnesses stemming from unhealthy food choices and limited physical activity. This is further aided by our genetic predisposition toward clogging the arteries with fats1. Culture determines our food habits and shapes our beliefs and value systems. Often what we love to eat and have learned to believe are at loggerheads…

Cardio Metabolic