A multi-component, family-focused and literacy-sensitive intervention to improve medication adherence in patients with heart failure–A randomized controlled trial

Background: Medication nonadherence is prevalent and links to serious outcomes (e.g., rehospitalization/death) in heart failure (HF) patients; therefore, an urgent need exists for an intervention to improve and sustain adherence after intervention completion. Objectives: To test the efficacy of a multi-component, family-focused, literacy-sensitive (FamLit) intervention on medication adherence in HF patients. Methods: Forty-three HF patients and their care partners were enrolled and randomized to receive FamLit or attention-only intervention, including an in-person session at baseline and bi-weekly phone boosters for 3 months. We measured medication adherence from baseline to 3-month post-intervention using the Medication Event Monitoring System. Results: After 3-month intervention, intervention patients had significantly better medication adherence than control patients. At 6 months (3-months post-intervention), intervention effect on adherence was sustained in the FamLit intervention group, while adherence decreased in the control group. Conclusion: Incorporating care partner support and providing an easy-to-understand intervention to patients-care partners may improve/sustain adherence.