Patient information and compliance in cardiovascular disease

Background: statins are frequently used prophylactic in CHD, however adherence is suboptimal. We expect that comprehensive information will increase adherence in patients. Aims: to examine if different types of prognostic information associated with prescription of a certain drug by physicians can influence patients to take the drug as recommended, and to investigate whether patients want this type of information. Methods: A survey was performed in 313 patients diagnosed with CVD. Patients were presented to three facts with relative risk reduction and absolute risk reduction figures associated with the use of the drug and self-estimated likelihood of taking the drug as prescribed was registered after each given fact. Results: Self-estimated likelihood of taking the drug as prescribed was highest when the cardiologist recommended the drug without presenting absolute and relative risk reduction figures (p<0.001). Presenting relative risk reduction figures for the patients gave significantly higher self-estimated likelihood to take the drug as prescribed compared to giving the patients absolute risk reduction figures (p