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

Jia Rong Wu, Barbara Mark, George J. Knafl, Sandra B. Dunbar, Patricia P. Chang, Darren A. DeWalt

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

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.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)507-514
Number of pages8
JournalHeart and Lung
Volume48
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1 2019

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Elsevier Inc.

Funding

This study was supported by funding from the National Institute of Nursing Research of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number K23NR014489 (Jia-Rong Wu, PI). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute of Nursing Research or the National Institutes of Health. This study was supported by funding from the National Institute of Nursing Research of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number K23NR014489 (Jia-Rong Wu, PI). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute of Nursing Research or the National Institutes of Health. The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

FundersFunder number
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
National Institute of Nursing ResearchK23NR014489
Office of Extramural Research, National Institutes of Health

    Keywords

    • Behavior intervention
    • Family intervention
    • Health literacy
    • Medication adherence

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
    • Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine
    • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'A multi-component, family-focused and literacy-sensitive intervention to improve medication adherence in patients with heart failure–A randomized controlled trial'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this