Factors Influencing Medication Adherence in Heart Failure Patients—A Survey among Cardiac Healthcare Providers

Abstract

Adhering to medication regimens is key behavior to alleviate symptoms and slow disease progression in heart failure (HF). This study explores cardiac healthcare providers' perceptions and experiences of factors influencing medication adherence (MA) in HF patients, with findings contributing to developing a HF-specific MA assessment scale. Using a cross-sectional, mixed methods design, we conducted an online survey with both closed and open-ended questions distributed to cardiac healthcare providers, working at the National University Hospital in Iceland. The survey consisted of 103 questions divided into 18 themes. Analysis included descriptive statistics of the participants' responses to closed responses with simplified scoring. Free-text responses were grouped into thematic categories and then into subthemes. Of 104 healthcare providers invited, 73 (70%) participated. Key factors identified as most beneficial for supporting MA included supportive patient–provider relationships (97%), selecting suitable drug formulation (96%), healthcare support at home (95%), and multi-dose dispensing from pharmacies (93%). The youngest and oldest HF patients were believed to be at the highest risk of medication non-adherence, particularly among males. Other patients estimated at increased risk included those with alcohol and/or substance abuse (89%), those with limited knowledge of medication effects (89%), those perceiving medication as useless (88%), and those with cognitive impairment (86%). Most participants (73%) agreed that healthcare providers should assess and document MA in clinical care. These findings provide a comprehensive overview of factors that cardiac healthcare providers believe influence non-adherence in HF patients, contributing to the development of a HF-specific MA scale.