Levels of adherence to treatment, illness perception and acceptance of illness in patients with coronary artery disease - descriptive and correlational study

Background: Understanding the disease and its acceptance significantly influence adherence to prescribed medications, a critical aspect in managing coronary artery disease (CAD). This study is designed to explore the multifaceted factors influencing medication adherence specifically in CAD patients. Of particular interest is investigating the interconnectedness between medication adherence, the perception of illness, and the level of acceptance of the illness itself among these individuals.

Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 280 confirmed CAD patients who were selected through a convenience sampling method adhering to predefined inclusion criteria. The study was conducted between March and September 2023. Three primary parameters-medication adherence, illness perception, and acceptance of illness-were evaluated using standardized tools: The Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-8, Illness Perception Questionnaire-Brief, and Acceptance of Illness Scale. Statistical analyses using SPSS (version 25) were used to analyze the data.

Results: Patients had moderate illness perception (51.82 ± 7.58) and low acceptance to illness (16.98 ± 4.75), and 61.8 of them adhered to their medication regimen. A positive relationship between acceptance of illness and medication adherence (r = 0.435, p-value < 0.01) was found. Level of education, type of drug and marital status had significantly impact on medication adherence, and gender, level of education, intention to stop drug and marital status were associated with acceptance of illness (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: These results underscore the pivotal role of medication adherence in CAD management. Future interventions should target improving illness perception and acceptance of illness among CAD patients to enhance their overall adherence to prescribed medications and ultimately improve disease management.