George Intas1, Aikaterini Psara2, Pantelis Stergiannis3, Eleftheria Chalari4, Agni Sakkou5, Fotios Anagnostopoulos6. 1. General Hospital of Nikaia "Agios Panteleimon", Nikaia, Greece. intasgeo@yahoo.gr. 2. General Hospital of Ileia "Andreas Papandreou", Sintriada, Hleia, Greece. 3. Oncology Hospital "Agioi Anargiroi", Timiou Stavrou, Kifisia, Greece. 4. General Hospital of Nikaia "Agios Panteleimon", Nikaia, Greece. 5. General Hospital of Thessaloniki "Agios Pavlos", Kalamaria, Greece. 6. Department of Psychology, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Athens, Greece.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Low compliance rates with medication after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a serious public health problem with adverse socioeconomic implications for both patients and their families as well as for health systems in general. The aims of the study are to measure the levels of compliance with medication in the treatment of patients who suffered from ACS and to investigate the factors contributing to the noncompliance. METHODS: The sample consisted of 100 patients hospitalized in the coronary care unit (CCU) of a general hospital. The compliance of patients with treatment, which was measured with the GR-SMAQ and ARMS scales, was measured at 3, 6, and 12 months after their hospitalization. The t-test and control X2 were used, and the value of statistical significance was set to 0.05. RESULTS: According to the GR-SMAQ and ARMS scales, compliance of patients at 3, 6, and 12 months after hospitalization is low (58%, 70%, 32% with ARMS scale and 54%, 58%, 38% with GR-SMAQ scale, respectively). Patients who were readmitted to CCU had 68.9% less chances of showing compliance, and patients who had normal levels of systolic blood pressure were 3.5 times more likely to adhere to their treatment. No correlation between compliance and social demographic data, such as gender, age, level of study, and family and occupational status, was found (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Compliance of patients who suffered from ACS is at low level. There is a need for closed monitoring and use of wearable devices in order to improve the compliance rates.
BACKGROUND: Low compliance rates with medication after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a serious public health problem with adverse socioeconomic implications for both patients and their families as well as for health systems in general. The aims of the study are to measure the levels of compliance with medication in the treatment of patients who suffered from ACS and to investigate the factors contributing to the noncompliance. METHODS: The sample consisted of 100 patients hospitalized in the coronary care unit (CCU) of a general hospital. The compliance of patients with treatment, which was measured with the GR-SMAQ and ARMS scales, was measured at 3, 6, and 12 months after their hospitalization. The t-test and control X2 were used, and the value of statistical significance was set to 0.05. RESULTS: According to the GR-SMAQ and ARMS scales, compliance of patients at 3, 6, and 12 months after hospitalization is low (58%, 70%, 32% with ARMS scale and 54%, 58%, 38% with GR-SMAQ scale, respectively). Patients who were readmitted to CCU had 68.9% less chances of showing compliance, and patients who had normal levels of systolic blood pressure were 3.5 times more likely to adhere to their treatment. No correlation between compliance and social demographic data, such as gender, age, level of study, and family and occupational status, was found (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Compliance of patients who suffered from ACS is at low level. There is a need for closed monitoring and use of wearable devices in order to improve the compliance rates.
Entities:
Keywords:
ARMS; Acute coronary syndrome; Cardiac care unit; Compliance; GR-SMAQ