Health Beliefs and Compliance Among Adults with Cardiac Disease

This study attempted to describe the health beliefs and compliance levels of 25 adult males who were prescribed medication to treat cardiac disease. A structured interview was conducted to obtain information regarding the subjects\u27 motivation/ social support/ and perceptions of severity, susceptibility, benefits, and barriers toward cardiac disease and the treatment regimen. Following the interview/ subjects received a patient education program that consisted of both verbal and written information regarding their medications. A telephone interview to measure knowledge and compliance was conducted 30±1 days after the initial interview and patient education program. The results revealed that although a majority of the sample stated that taking their cardiac medications did not interfere with their lifestyle/ more than 50 percent of the sample had omitted one or more doses of their cardiac medication during the previous 30 days. The implication of this study shows a need for nurses to discuss various methods for incorporating the medication regimen into the patient\u27s lifestyle as part of the patient education program