Health Care Providers' Beliefs and Attitudes towards Barriers to Medication Adherence in an Outpatient Cardiology Clinic

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is an inclusive term that refers to disorders of the heart and blood vessels and is the leading cause of death worldwide. Proper medical management of CVD relies upon evidence-based medication regimes prescribed by cardiology health care providers (CHCP). Despite the many known benefits of prescribed evidence-based medication regimes, medication adherence in individuals with CVD continues to be a growing concern. The role of the patient-provider relationship has been shown as a valuable connection in supporting CVD patients with medication adherence. The purpose of this needs assessment project was to identify CHCP beliefs and attitudes towards barriers to medication adherence at a Phoenix, Arizona outpatient cardiology clinic. A 14 question, online, Likert-type scale survey with one open-ended question was created and disseminated to CHCP recruited from an outpatient cardiology clinic in Phoenix, Arizona. The survey gathered CHCP demographic data, and assessed their beliefs and attitudes towards barriers to medication adherence. Of the 37 potential CHCP respondents that were approached to participate in this online survey, 24 respondents (65%) completed the online survey. The majority of CHCP respondents reported that medication adherence is a concern for their patients and that they address medication adherence with at least every other patient encounter. Medication side effects, cost, complexity of medication regime, and patient forgetfulness were the most frequently reported perceived barriers by CHCP to patient medication adherence. Time and up-to-date medication lists were reported by the CHCP as the greatest barriers to discussing medication adherence with their patients. Results from this needs assessment project can be used to begin understanding CHCP beliefs and attitudes towards medication adherence and how this factors into provider-patient communications.