Preliminary Study on Clinical Factors Affecting Medication Adherence in Patients with Cardiac Disease Undergoing Ambulatory Cardiac Rehabilitation

In Japan, there has been insufficient investigation of the factors affecting medication adherence by patients undergoing ambulatory cardiac rehabilitation. To support medication persistence by these patients, medication adherence was surveyed, and the factors affecting it explored, by using a structured, face-to-face questionnaire survey that was able to assess not only the level of compliance with prescription-drug-taking but also patients’ self-motivation toward treatment. The subscale scores for medication adherence, obtained from 35 patients by using a questionnaire based on the work of Ueno et al., were as follows. “Level of medication compliance” (median, 15 points) and “Acceptance of taking medication and fitting in medication-taking with patient lifestyle” (14 points) were high. However, “Collaboration with healthcare providers in taking medication” (8 points) and “Willingness to access and use information about medication-taking” (7 points) were low. “Level of medication compliance” among non-working people (15 points) and “Collaboration with healthcare providers in taking medication” among married people (11 points) were high. From this preliminary study, we consider that, to improve or maintain the medication adherence of patients undergoing ambulatory cardiac rehabilitation, it is important that pharmacists provide drug information that is based on an understanding of the patients’ information needs. This will improve collaboration with patients and raise patients’ motivation to participate proactively in their treatment.