Initial medication adherence in newly diagnosed glaucoma patients:three adherence measures

AIM:To determine initial medication adherence in newly diagnosed glaucoma patients treated with anti-glaucoma drugs.METHODS:This retrospective and observational study included all patients diagnosed with glaucoma in the Primary Health Care units in Portugal during the years 2012 and 2013,which in consequence received a first prescription for anti-glaucoma drugs.Data was collected from electronic prescribing records of the primary care units and from pharmacy claims records.Initiation of glaucoma treatment and early discontinuation were measured,and the combination of(non)-initiation and early discontinuation accounted for initial medication(non)-adherence.RESULTS:A total of 3548 new glaucoma patients(40.1%male;59.9%female)were included.The 1133(31.9%)patients were initially classified as non-users,since there was no pharmacy claim found for their first prescription for glaucoma treatment.Additionally,277(11.5%)patients early discontinued their treatment,acquiring only their first prescription.Overall,the initial medication non-adherence rate was 39.7%since 1410 patients either didn’t initiate treatment or discontinued it early.CONCLUSION:This study,reveals a major opportunity to improve glaucoma treatment and its control,since a large proportion of patients fail to engage with their prescribed therapy,which implies that implementation of individual or group strategies that enable patients with glaucoma to correctly perform their treatment is still needed.

Psychological Distress, Social Support and Medication Adherence in Patients with Ischemic Stroke in the Mainland of China

Stroke research and rehabilitation have traditionally focused on the physical and functional impact of a stroke. Less attention has been given to the psychosocial factors associated with this chronic condition. By the few studies that have specifically focused on psychosocial factors in the context of stroke, poststroke depression is demonstrated to significantly influence stroke outcomes. Associations of stroke with psychological symptoms other than depression have rarely been evaluated. This study was aimed to investigate the changes of psychological stress, social support and medication adherence in patients with ischemic stroke in the mainland of China. In this study, 90 patients with hemiplegia one year after first-ever middle cerebral artery infarction（stroke group） in the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University from June 2008 to June 2011 were recruited for interview. Ninety age- and sex-matched normal volunteers（control group） were also examined at the same period. The psychological distress was assessed by the Symptom Checklist 90（SCL-90）, the social support by the Social Support Rating Scale（SSRS）, and medication adherence by Morisky＇s self-reported inventory, respectively. Group differences were analyzed using unpaired-t test and chi-squared test. The results showed that total mean scores of the SCL-90 in the stroke group were higher than those in the control group（P〈0.01）. Except two dimensions, paranoid ideation and psychoticism, mean scores of the rest dimensions（including somatization, obsession-compulsion, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, hostility, and phobic anxiety） of SCL-90 were significantly higher in the stroke group than those in the control group（P〈0.05, or P〈0.01）. The objective support, subjective support, support availability and total social support scores in the stroke group were significantly higher than those in the control group（P〈0.05, or P〈0.01）. Those in the ＂SCL-90 total scores 〉150 group＂ were significantly higher than in the ＂SCL-90 total scores 〈100 group＂ and the ＂SCL-90 total scores between 100 to 150 group＂（P〈0.05, or P〈0.01）. Those in the ＂SCL-90 total scores between 100 to 150 group＂ were significantly higher than in the ＂SCL-90 total scores 〈100 group＂（P〈0.05）. In 90 patients with ischemic stroke, 26（28.89%） patients obtained high medication adherence, 47（52.22%） patients medium medication adherence, and 17（18.89%） patients low medication adherence, respectively. Among these stroke patients, there were 17（50.00%） patients with high medication adherence in the ＂SCL-90 total scores 〉150 group＂, 28（75.67%） patients with medium medication adherence in the ＂SCL-90 total scores between 100 to 150 group＂, and 12（61.16%） patients with low medication adherence in the ＂SCL-90 total scores 〈100 group＂, respectively. There was significant difference in the medication adherence rate among the different SCL-90 scores groups in these stroke patients（P〈0.05 or P〈0.01）. It was led to conclude that ischemic stroke patients one year after hemiplegia have psychological distress, low level of social support and poor medication adherence in the mainland of China. Therefore, it is necessary to mobilize the government, medical institutions and various social support groups to offer psychological interventions to relieve the stress of patients with ischemic stroke, and improve their medication adherence.

An mHealth intervention to improve medication adherence among patients with coronary heart disease in China: Development of an intervention

Objectives:With this study,we aimed to develop a mobile technology(mHealth)intervention to improve medication adherence among patients with coronary heart disease(CHD).Methods:The study was conducted in two phases with CHD patients from a Cardiology Department of a hospital located in China.Each phase was independent from the other.Phase 1 tested the integration of the two apps-"WeChat"and"BB Reminder"-as an mHealth intervention.All participants received the same educational materials via WeChat every two days.Participants in the experimental group received a reminder from BB Reminder for every dose of their medications.The duration of Phase 1 was 30 days for each participant.Phase 2 refined the intervention,in which educational materials were sent every five days rather than every two days,and medication-taking reminders were sent daily rather than every dose.Results:In Phase 1,an mHealth intervention was developed by integrating two mobile apps.In Phase 2,medication adherence increased at 30-day follow-up in both groups compared to baseline.At the 30-day follow-up,the mean of the decrease in medication non-adherence score in the experimental group(M=1.35,SD=2.18,n=36)was more than the decrease in control group(M=0.69,SD=1.58,n=36),which means the medication adherence improved more in the experimental group.Conclusion:The feasibility of using mHealth to remind CHD patients to take their medications is high.

Medication beliefs predict medication adherence in ambulatory patients with decompensated cirrhosis

AIM To investigate the impact of medication beliefs, illness perceptions and quality of life on medication adherence in people with decompensated cirrhosis.METHODS One hundred adults with decompensated cirrhosis completed a structured questionnaire when they attended for routine outpatient hepatology review. Measures of self-reported medication adherence(Morisky Medication Adherence Scale), beliefs surrounding medications(Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire), perceptions of illness and medicines(Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire), and quality of life(Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire) were examined. Clinical data were obtained via patient history and review of medical records. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator and stepwise backwards regression techniques were used to construct the multivariable logistic regression model. Statistical significance was set at alpha = 0.05.RESULTS Medication adherence was " High " in 42 % o f participants, "Medium" in 37%, and "Low" in 21%. Compared to patients with "High" adherence, those with "Medium" or "Low" adherence were more likely to report difficulty affording their medications(P < 0.001), lower perception of treatment helpfulness(P = 0.003) and stronger medication concerns relative to medication necessity beliefs(P = 0.003). People with "Low" adherence also experienced greater symptom burden and poorer quality of life, including more frequent abdominal pain(P = 0.023), shortness of breath(P = 0.030), and emotional disturbances(P = 0.050). Multivariable analysis identified having stronger medication concerns relative to necessity beliefs(Necessity-Concerns Differential ≤ 5, OR = 3.66, 95%CI: 1.18-11.40) and more frequent shortness of breath(shortness of breath score ≤ 3, OR = 3.87,95%CI: 1.22-12.25) as independent predictors of "Low"adherence.CONCLUSION The association between "Low" adherence and patients having strong concerns or doubting the necessity or helpfulness of their medications should be explored further given the clinical relevance.

Medication adherence and quality of life among type-2 diabetes mellitus patients in India

BACKGROUND Diabetes mellitus(DM)is a progressively increasing metabolic disorder and a significant public health burden that demands immediate global attention.However,there is a paucity of data about adherence to antidiabetic drugs among patients with type-2(T2)DM in Uttarakhand,India.Outpatient research reported that more than 50%of patients do not adhere to the correct administration and appropriate medicine dosage.It has been reported that patients with chronic diseases who adhere to treatment may experience improvement in quality of life(QoL)and vice versa.AIM To assess the adherence to antidiabetic medication and QoL among patients with T2DM.METHODS This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Uttarakhand,India.The Medication Adherence Rating Scale and World Health Organization QoL-BREF scale were used to assess medication adherence and QoL.RESULTS Two hundred seventy-seven patients suffering from T2DM participated in the study.Their mean age was 50.80(±10.6)years,155(56%)had a poor adherence level and 122(44%)had a good adherence level to antidiabetic medications.After adjusting for sociodemographic factors,multiple linear regression analysis found patients who were adherent to antidiabetic medications had significantly higher mean overall perception of QoL and overall perception of health,with beta scores of 0.36 and 0.34,respectively(both P=0.000)points compared with nonadherent patients.CONCLUSION There was an association between medication adherence and QoL in patients with T2DM.Hence,there is a need to plan awareness and counseling programs followed by regular follow-up to motivate patient adherence to recommended treatment and lifestyle regimens.

Treatment satisfaction and medication adherence among hypertensive patients in a teaching hospital in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Objective:This study investigates treatment satisfaction and medication adherence among hypertensive patients attending the medical outpatient clinic of a teaching hospital in Ekiti State,Nigeria.Materials and Methods:The study design was descriptive and cross-sectional using quantitative research strategy.A systematic sampling technique was used in selecting 270 participants;a structured questionnaire was used for data collection.Medication adherence was assessed using the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale,and treatment satisfaction was assessed using the 14-item Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication.Results:The study findings revealed that majority(73.7%)of the study participants had good knowledge of hypertension,while 44.4%had a good level of treatment satisfaction.Test of association of participants’sociodemographic characteristics revealed age(χ^(2)=23.773,P=0.003)and occupation(χ^(2)=21.251,P=0.019)to be significantly associated with treatment satisfaction.The level of medication adherence by the participants was observed to be relatively poor(50.4%).The educational status(χ^(2)=23.914,P=0.001)and monthly income(χ^(2)=10.406,P=0.034)of the participants showed significant association with medication adherence.Conclusion:The study recommends that improving patients’understanding of their disease and treatment with subsidizing hypertensive medications by the government will enhance medication adherence.

Association between availability of glucose-lowering drugs in primary health institutions and diabetes patients’medication adherence:a cross-sectional study in Shandong Province,China

Background:Primary health care system is a critical component of diabetes care and management.This article aimed to analyze the availability of glucose-lowering drugs in primary health institutions(PHIs)in China,and to explore the relationship between availability of glucose-lowering drugs and medication adherence among type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)patients.Methods:This cross-sectional study conducted in Shandong Province,eastern China(hereafter referred to as Shandong),between August and December 2017.In total,2520 community-managed T2DM patients were selected from 68 PHIs in Shandong,including 62 village-level and 6 township-level PHIs.The self-developed questionnaire was used to survey the availability of glucose-lowering drugs in PHIs.Patients’medication adherence was assessed by four self-reported questions,and was classified as either adherent or non-adherent.Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the availability of glucose-lowering drugs in PHIs and the medication adherence among the T2DM patients.Multilevel logistic regression models were used to explore the relationship between the availability of glucose-lowering drugs in PHIs and patients’medication adherence.Results:A total of 1866 T2DM patients prescribed with at least one glucose-lowering drug were included in analysis.Among them,58.5%patients followed their antidiabetic treatment well.In village-level PHIs,the patient’s adherence rate was lower than in township-level PHIs(55.9%vs.61.1%,P<0.05).Among the 68 PHIs,average(2.53±0.97)glucose-lowering products(generic names)were available,which in village-level PHIs were less than in township-level PHIs(2.47 vs.3.17,P<0.05).And the number of available glucose-lowering products in PHIs was associated with the adherence of T2DM patients.Conclusion:Poor availability of glucose-lowering products was found in PHIs in Shandong.The availability of glucose-lowering products in PHIs was positively associated with patients’medication adherence,and could be enhanced to improve the control of diabetes in primary care settings.

Clinical effects of detailed nursing management interventions on medication adherence and disease perception in patients with drugresistant tuberculosis

BACKGROUND Tuberculosis(TB)is a chronic respiratory infectious disease that considerably jeopardizes human health,and there is no effective vaccine suitable for its prevention in the entire population.AIM To investigate the promotion of medication adherence and disease cognition in patients with drug-resistant(DR-)TB using detailed nursing management.METHODS In total,114 patients with DR-TB who were diagnosed and treated at our hospital between January 2019 and January 2023 were included in this study.Patients in the control group(n=57)were managed with conventional nursing care,while those in the observation group(n=57)were managed with detailed nursing care.Medication adherence,disease awareness scores,medication safety,and nursing satisfaction were compared between the two groups after the intervention.RESULTS The post-intervention medication compliance rate was 91.23%in the observation group and 75.44%in the control group,with the former being 15.79%higher than the latter(P<0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in the disease awareness scores between the two groups before the intervention;the disease awareness scores of the observation group were significantly higher than those of the control group after the intervention(P<0.05).The incidence of gastrointestinal reactions,joint swelling and pain,hearing loss,electrolyte disorders,and liver and kidney function abnormalities were lower in the observation group than those in the control group.The total nursing satisfaction of the observation group was higher than that of the control group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Implementation of detailed nursing management for patients with DR-TB can effectively improve medication adherence,enhance awareness of the disease,ensure safety of medication,and improve satisfaction with nursing care.

A Comparison of Quality of Life, Medication Side-Effect and Adherence among Schizophrenia Patients on Conventional versus Atypical Antipsychotics

Quality of life (QoL) is becoming a widely accepted schizophrenia management outcome. But it is still not very clear if there are any significant differences between the conventional and atypical antipsychotics in terms of QoL improvement among people with schizophrenia (PWS). It is also imperative that antipsychotic drug-related factors, such as medication adherence and side-effect, which could directly or indirectly affect the QoL of PWS, are determined and compared among PWS on different classes of the drugs. Data were collected on Socio-demographic Characteristics, Quality of Life and Medication adherence using Socio-demographic and Schizophrenia Clinical Characteristics questionnaire, World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQoL)-Brief, and Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS) respectively from 250 respondents attending a tertiary health center’s Psychiatric clinic in Kano, Nigeria. Although PWS on the two classes of antipsychotic drugs showed inequalities in different aspects and domains of QoL, as well as in the levels of adherence and side-effects, the differences were all insignificant. However, presence of drug side effects was significantly associated with lower health-related QoL in the conventional antipsychotics group (p = 0.001), and lower score in the physical domain of QoL in the atypical antipsychotics group (p = 0.044). Medication adherence was found to be associated with better scores in different domains of QoL in both groups of PWS. There are no significant differences in terms of QoL, medication side-effect and adherence among PWS on the two classes of antipsychotics. However, drug side-effects and adherence were significantly and respectively associated with lower and higher scores in different domains of QoL in both groups.

The application of the necessity-concerns framework in investigating adherence and beliefs about immunosuppressive medication among Chinese liver transplant recipients

Objective： This study aimed to explore adherence to and beliefs about immunosuppressive medication using the Necessity-Concerns Framework（NCF） in liver transplant recipients.Methods： A cross-sectional study performed in recipients who were at least 3 months post liver transplantation. A convenience sample of 243 recipients was recruited. Self-reported medication adherence was measured by the Basel Assessment of Adherence with Immunosuppressive Medication Scale（BAASIS）. The NCF was operationalized using the Beliefs about Medication Questionnaire（BMQ） to assess the beliefs about necessity and concerns with taking immunosuppressive medication.Results： One-hundred-forty-five liver transplant recipients were non-adherent（59.67%）. Compared to adherers, non-adherers had lower beliefs regarding the necessity of taking immunosuppressive medication and lower scores on the necessity-concerns different from adherers.Conclusions： Non-adherence is common in liver transplant recipients. Non-adherers hold beliefs that are different from adherers. Efforts to increase adherence should be made by targeting medication beliefs.

Patients’time in therapeutic range on warfarin among atrial fibrillation patients in Warfarin Medication Therapy Adherence Clinic

BACKGROUND The quality of warfarin therapy can be determined by the time in the therapeutic range(TTR)of international normalized ratio(INR).The estimated minimum TTR needed to achieve a benefit from warfarin therapy is≥60%.AIM To determine TTR and the predictors of poor TTR among atrial fibrillation patients who receive warfarin therapy.METHODS A retrospective observational study was conducted at a cardiology referral center in Selangor,Malaysia.A total of 420 patients with atrial fibrillation and under follow-up at the pharmacist led Warfarin Medication Therapeutic Adherence Clinic between January 2014 and December 2018 were included.Patients’clinical data,information related to warfarin therapy,and INR readings were traced through electronic Hospital Information system.A data collection form was used for data collection.The percentage of days when INR was within range was calculated using the Rosendaal method.The poor INR control category was defined as a TTR<60%.Predictors for poor TTR were further determined by using logistic regression.RESULTS A total of 420 patients[54.0%male;mean age 65.7(10.9)years]were included.The calculated mean and median TTR were 60.6%±20.6%and 64%(interquartile range 48%-75%),respectively.Of the included patients,57.6%(n=242)were in the good control category and 42.4%(n=178)were in the poor control category.The annual calculated mean TTR between the year 2014 and 2018 ranged from 59.7%and 67.3%.A high HAS-BLED score of≥3 was associated with poor TTR(adjusted odds ratio,2.525;95%confidence interval:1.6-3.9,P<0.001).CONCLUSION In our population,a high HAS-BLED score was associated with poor TTR.This could provide an important insight when initiating an oral anticoagulant for these patients.Patients with a high HAS-BLED score may obtain less benefit from warfarin therapy and should be considered for other available oral anticoagulants for maximum benefit.

Adherence to medication behavior among tuberculosis patients and their affecting factors:a cross-sectional study at Public Health Center of Wonogiri District, Indonesia

Objective:This study aimed to identify the influence of predisposing,enabling,and reinforcing factors and the adherence to medication behavior among tuberculosis patients in Selogiri Wonogiri Public Health Center.Methods:This study employed a descriptive cross-sectional research design.A questionnaire was used to collect primary data.Secondary data were obtained from patient treatment cards(Form TB 01).This research was carried out at Selogiri Health Center from November to December 2017.The participants were patients,both new and old patients,who had completed their treatment in the last 2 months or more,recorded from January 2016 to December 2017.A total sampling technique was used in this study.Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the influence of predisposing,enabling,and reinforcing factors and the adherence to medication among tuberculosis patients.Results:The results of logistic regression analysis indicated that there were four independent variables that have a significant relationship with treatment variables,namely education(odds ratio(OR)=0.025;95%confidence interval(CI)=0.001-0.039);knowledge(OR=3.37;95%CI=0.19-57.71);type of drug(OR=0.448;95%CI=0.012-16.07),and means of transportation(OR=25.77;95%CI=1.33-500.47).Conclusions:Education,knowledge,type of drug,and means of transportation influence medication compliance among tuberculosis patients.Therefore,supporting patients during medication program of tuberculosis is needed to improve their adherence medication during multidrug therapy.

Factors Affecting Medication Non Adherence in Type 2 Sudanese Diabetic Patients

Background: Medications non-adherence is responsible for treatment failure and a reason of higher cost of medical care. It had been proved that, in general, diabetic patients are non-adherent to their treatment and only a small number of them were found to be adhering with all aspects of diabetic care. Objectives: To assess and evaluate the most common factors associated with medications adherence among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) patients attending Ribat University Hospital Diabetic Clinic (RUHDC) Khartoum state, Sudan. Methods: Single Centre Descriptive cross sectional hospital based study was carried out among 351 patients using structured questionnaire and patients cards. Results: A total of 351 patients were recruited in the study;65.8% were females. About 64.4% were on oral medications and 35.6% on insulin. Adherence to medications among total Type 2 DM patients was 45%. Main barriers to medication adherence were drugs unavailability (34.3%) and forgetfulness (30.7%). Medications knowledge was 41.2% for patients on oral medications and 38.4% for insulin users. Conclusion: Adherence to anti-diabetic drugs in this study was found to be sub-optimal but considered reasonable in comparison with that reported by many African countries. Poor medications knowledge, drug brand unavailability and forgetfulness were the main reasons for medications non adherence. Family support, improving healthcare system and changing patents’ behavior will be needed to improve medications adherence.

Self reported adherence to antiretroviral treatment and correlates in Hunan province,the Peoples Republic of China

Aims:This study aimed to describe the adherence level to antiretroviral therapy and its associated factors among people living with HIV in Hunan province,China.Methods:Across-sectional survey study was done at two major HIV treatment sites within Hunan province in China from July 2011 to Oct 2012 through face-to-face interviews.Adherence measures were captured using a 30-day visual analog scale(VAS).Results:A total of 418 participants consented and completed the questionnaires with the mean age being 38 years old.Based on VAS,28%of the participants had lower than 90%ART adherence level.The main reasons for missing drugs were;forgetting,being away from home,being busy and feeling worse after taking drugs.Logistic regression results showed that drug use(B=0.68,OR=2.11),time on ART(B=0.31,OR=0.72)and side effects(B=0.64,OR=1.82)were significantly associated with adherence to ART.Conclusion:Patients on ARVs in Hunan province are faced with adherence challenges notably drug abuse,drug regime scheduling challenges at the initial stages of therapy and drug side effects.It is therefore necessary to institute specific adherence interventions that target those who abuse drugs,ART naïve patients,and those experiencing side effects in order to achieve optimal ART adherence.

Impact of specialized nursing outpatient case management on postcoronary artery bypass grafting patients

BACKGROUND Some patients with coronary atherosclerotic heart disease experience major adverse cardiac events(MACE)and require readmission after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting(CABG)surgery.This is often attributed to patients'unhealthy lifestyles and dietary habits,inadequate understanding of the disease,and poor disease management compliance.Thus,searching for more targeted nursing intervention models that can enhance patients'self-management abilities and reduce the risk of readmission after CABG surgery is significant.AIM To observe the impact of specialized nursing outpatient case management on patients after CABG surgery.METHODS A total of 103 patients who underwent CABG surgery in our hospital between April 2021 and April 2022 comprised the study sample.The patients were divided into two groups using an odd-even number grouping method.The control group received routine nursing care,while the case management group received specialized nursing outpatient case management.The differences in psychological status,adherence to medical treatment,self-care ability,knowledge mastery,quality of life scores,and the occurrence rate of MACE were compared between the two groups.RESULTS After the intervention,the case management group had lower scores on the selfrating depression scale and self-rating anxiety scale and lower MACE rate,as well as higher scores for adherence to a healthy diet,medication adherence,good lifestyle habits,regular exercise,and timely follow-up,higher scores on the Coronary Heart Disease Self-Management Scale,higher scores for managing adverse habits,symptoms,emotional cognition,emergency response,disease knowledge,general lifestyle,and treatment adherence,higher scores for understanding coronary heart disease,recognizing the importance of medication adherence,understanding selfcare points after CABG surgery,and being aware of post-CABG precautions,higher scores for physical well-being,disease condition,general health,social-psychological well-being,and work-related aspects(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Specialized nursing outpatient case management can enhance patient adherence to medical treatment,knowledge mastery,psychological well-being,and overall quality of life in patients after CABG surgery.

Preoperative Medication Management, Compliance and Adverse Events in Adult Patients Undergoing Elective Surgery: A Historical Chart Review

Purpose: Medication compliance for chronic medications has been well studied, but there is a gap in the literature regarding compliance within the perioperative period. Our objective was to determine the incidence of patient non-compliance with preoperative medication instructions for adult non-emergent surgery. Additional objectives were to identify predictors of compliance, describe medication instructions by drug type, and explore the impact of non-compliance. Patients and Methods: This historical chart review evaluated preoperative compliance to medication instructions in 393 adults undergoing non-emergent surgeries at Hamilton Health Sciences between May 1, 2012, and April 30, 2013. Seven patient factors (age;sex;American Society of Anesthesiologists class;number of medications;type of surgery;time between preoperative appointment to surgery;the individual collecting the medication list) were evaluated as potential predictors of non-compliance and analyzed using logistic regression analysis. Consequences of non-compliance were assessed by impact on intraoperative blood pressure, blood glucose level, drop in hemoglobin, bronchospasm, and case delays. Results: One hundred forty-six (37.2%) patients were non-compliant with one or more medication reconciliation instructions provided by the anesthesiologist. No significant associations were observed for any patient risk factors and non-compliance. Non-compliance was not associated with any clinically significant consequences. Conclusions: Our study shows that 37.15% of adult patients undergoing non-emergent surgery were non-compliant with medication instructions, although patients did not receive any written instructions for 46% of their medications. We did not identify any predictive patient factors or adverse outcomes associated with non-compliance.

A descriptive study about the use of pillboxes by older adults

The goal of this research was to observe which features, according to the users’ point of view, might influence the use of pillboxes. Older adults were surveyed in order to test different pillboxes and report their observations about their difficulties. Both the individuals and the pillboxes themselves have characteristics that might influence successful use, such as difficulty remembering medication names and lack of hand strength and the complexity of the pillboxes’ alarm system and opening mechanism. Pillboxes can be effective in helping older adults take their medication provided they are designed according to both dosage prescription and the user’s functional capacity.

Home Blood Pressure Monitoring and Its Association With Blood Pressure Control Among Hypertensive Patients With High Cardiovascular Risk in China

Objective:Home blood pressure monitoring(HBPM)is viewed as a facilitating factor in the initial diagnosis and long-term management of treated hypertension.However,evidence remains scarce about the effectiveness of HBPM use in the real world.This study aimed to examine the associations of HBPM use with blood pressure(BP)control and medication adherence.Methods:This prospective cohort study included hypertensive patients with high cardiovascular risk who were aged≥50 years.At baseline,information about types of BP monitor,frequency of HBPM,perception of anti-hypertensive treatment,and measured office BP were collected.During the 1-year follow-up(visits at 1,2,3,6,and 12 months),information on medication adherence was collected at each visit.The 2 major outcomes were BP control at baseline and medication adherence during the 1-year follow-up.A log-binomial regression model was used to examine the association between frequency of HBPM and outcomes,stratified by the perceptions of anti-hypertensive treatment.Results:A total of 5,363 hypertensive patients were included in the analysis.The age was(64.6±7.2)years,and 41.2%(2,208)were female.Of the total patients,85.9%(4,606)had a home BP monitor and 47.8%(2,564)had an incorrect perception of anti-hypertensive treatment.Overall,24.2%(1,299)of patients monitored their BP daily,37.6%(2,015)weekly,17.3%(926)monthly,and 20.9%(1,123)less than monthly.At baseline,the systolic BP and diastolic BP were(146.6±10.8)mmHg and(81.9±10.6)mmHg,respectively,and 28.5%(1,527)of patients had their BP controlled.Regardless of whether the patients had correct or incorrect perceptions of anti-hypertensive treatment,there is no significant association between HBPM frequency and BP control at baseline.During the 1-year follow-up,23.9%(1,280)of patients had non-adherence to medications at least once.In patients with an incorrect perception of anti-hypertensive treatment,those monitoring BP most frequently(daily)had the highest non-adherence rate(29.9%,175/585).Compared with those monitoring their BP less than monthly,patients who monitored their BP daily were more likely not to adhere to anti-hypertensive medications(adjusted relative risk=1.38,95%confidence interval:1.11–1.72,P=0.004).Conclusions:HBPM performance among hypertensive patients in China is,in general,sub-optimal.No association was observed between using HBPM alone and hypertension control,indicating that the effects of HBPM could be conditional.Patients’misconceptions about anti-hypertensive treatment may impair the role of BP monitoring in achieving medication adherence.Fully incorporating the correct perception of hypertension into the management of hypertensive patients is needed.

Poor adherence to P2Y12 antagonists increased cardiovascular risks in Chinese PCI-treated patients

Low adherence to secondary prevention medications （ATM） of patients after acute coronary syndrome （ACS） is associated with poor clinical outcomes. However, literature provides limited data on assessment of ATM and risks associated with poor in Chinese patients with ACS. In the current work, ATM was assessed in consecutively recruited patients with ACS in Tongji Hospital from November 5, 2013 to December 31, 2014. A total of 2126 patients were classified under low adherence （proportion of days covered （PDC）〈 50%） and high adherence （PDC〉50%） groups based on their performance after discharge. All patients were followed up at the 1st, 6th, and 12th month of discharge while recording ATM and major adverse cardiac events （MACE）. Bivariate logistic regression was used to identify the factors associated with ATM. Cox regression was used to analyze the association between ATM and MACE within one year after discharge. Results showed that coronary artery bypass grafting （CABG） alone had significantly lower proportion of high adherence to P2Y12 antagonists （83.0% vs. 90.7%, P 〈 0.01） than patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention （PCI） only. Moreover, in patients undergoing PCI, high adherence to P2Y12 antagonists decreased the risk of MACE （hazard ratio = 0.172, 95% confidence interval： 0.039-0.763; P= 0.021）. In conclusion, PCI-treated patients are more prone to remaining adherent to medications than CABG-treated patients. High adherence to P2Y12 antagonists was associated with lower risk of MACE.