ARTICLES

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…

Cardiovascular diseases have a social and economic impact Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality globally, accounting for 17.9 million deaths a year,1 with around 75-80% of these deaths taking place in low- and middle-income countries.2 For example, in Russia, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in men aged 49 or older.3…

Key Messages Defining adherence Adherence is a key factor in the effectiveness of therapies for both chronic and acute diseases. This is particularly true for cardiovascular disease, where nonadherence to chronic medications can have a negative impact on both the patient and the healthcare system. Non- adherence is often dubbed the Achilles heel of evidence-based…

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…

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…

Effectiveness of commonly used behavior-change strategies Commonly used strategies to influence behavior may work in some settings, but are often the least effective in actually instigating change, such as presenting threatening information.1 In the context of adherence, this might mean simply telling a patient to take a medication and expecting them to do it –…

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…

There is a need for a comprehensive framework for assessing adherence Systematic reviews of non-adherence indicate that there are a myriad of reasons why patients may not adhere to their treatment regimens.1 These include both modifiable reasons that can be targeted for change, such as patient knowledge and understanding of their disease, the support available…