For doctors

Measure 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…

Beliefs have an important influence over non-adherence There are a number of important beliefs that can influence patient non-adherence. These include beliefs about their illness, their treatment, and their own capacity, or self-efficacy, to adhere (the belief that they can successfully perform a specific behavior to achieve a desired outcome).1  In the COM-B framework, beliefs…

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…

Key message 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 medicine,…

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…