Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACS), Adherence
Conditions
Brief summary
This study aimed to assess adherence to secondary prevention medications among patients in Nepal following an Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) event and to identify factors affecting adherence. ACS was a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally and in Nepal, requiring effective secondary prevention to minimize recurrent cardiovascular events. However, adherence to prescribed medications remained low, especially in low- and middle-income countries like Nepal. Poor adherence could lead to increased healthcare burden, worsened patient outcomes, and higher mortality rates. To address this, the study evaluated patients' medication adherence through the MYMEDS questionnaire, a self-reported tool that was positively received for its simplicity and clarity. Conducted at the Manmohan Cardiothoracic Vascular and Transplant Centre in Nepal, the study involved a sample of adult patients who were readmitted or attending follow-ups post-ACS. The research gathered data on patient demographics, socioeconomic factors, clinical characteristics, and self-reported adherence barriers, analyzing these with SPSS to assess correlations with clinical outcomes. The 12-month project consisted of phases for ethical approvals, data collection, analysis, and report dissemination. By identifying key barriers to adherence, the study aimed to inform targeted interventions that could enhance medication adherence, improve long-term cardiovascular outcomes, and reduce healthcare burdens in Nepal and other similar settings.
Interventions
OTHERMy Experience of Taking Medicines (MYMEDS) questionnaire
This study does not involve a clinical or therapeutic intervention. Instead, it employs an assessment-based approach to evaluate medication adherence among post-Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) patients. The core instrument is the My Experience of Taking Medicines (MYMEDS) questionnaire, a validated, self-reported tool specifically designed to identify modifiable barriers to adherence in individuals prescribed secondary prevention medications. The questionnaire is structured into six sections that systematically explore patients' current medication use, their understanding and satisfaction with their prescribed regimen, specific concerns about the medicines, practical challenges in medication administration, difficulties in integrating medications into daily routines, and a detailed assessment of adherence to each individual secondary prevention drug over the preceding month. Utilizing primarily Likert-scale responses, the tool provides a nuanced understanding of adherence behaviors and t
Sponsors
Institute of medicine, Maharagjung medical campus
Study design
Observational model
OTHER
Time perspective
CROSS_SECTIONAL
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Patients diagnosed with ACS, including ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI), Non-ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (NSTEMI), or Unstable Angina within the last 12 months * Patients aged 18 years and older. * Patients willing to participate and provide informed consent for the study.
Exclusion criteria
* Individuals who have not been diagnosed with ACS or those with other acute or chronic conditions that might influence medication adherence unrelated to ACS. * Patients with cognitive impairments or mental health issues that prevent them from understanding or responding accurately to the study questionnaires. * Patients with severe chronic conditions (e.g., terminal illness, advanced dementia) that may affect their ability to adhere to medication regimens.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Medication adherence to secondary prevention medications measured using the My Experience of Taking Medicines (MYMEDS) questionnaire | 1 year | Medication adherence to prescribed secondary prevention medications will be assessed using Section 6 of the My Experience of Taking Medicines (MYMEDS) questionnaire. Participants report how often they took each prescribed secondary prevention medication during the preceding month, including antiplatelets, statins, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, or ARBs. Responses use a 5-point scale: 1 = Less than half of the time, 2=About half of the time, 3=Most of the time, 4=Nearly all of the time, and 5=All of the time. Scores range from 1 to 5, with higher values indicating better adherence. For analysis, participants reporting "All of the time" for all prescribed secondary prevention medications will be classified as adherent; those reporting any other response for at least one medication will be classified as non-adherent. Results will be reported as proportions of adherent and non-adherent participants. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Patient-reported barriers to medication adherence assessed using the My Experience of Taking Medicines (MYMEDS) questionnaire | 1 year | Patient-reported barriers to medication adherence will be assessed using Sections 2-5 of the My Experience of Taking Medicines (MYMEDS) questionnaire. These sections assess understanding and satisfaction with medicines, concerns about medicines, practical difficulties with medication use, and difficulties fitting medicines into daily routines. Each item is measured on a 4-point Likert scale: 1=Strongly disagree, 2=Disagree, 3=Agree, and 4=Strongly agree. Scores for individual items range from 1 to 4. Items will be analyzed separately rather than combined into a single overall score. For barrier-related statements, higher scores indicate greater perceived barriers to medication adherence. For positively worded understanding and satisfaction statements, higher scores indicate greater understanding or satisfaction. Results will be summarized using frequencies and proportions for each item. |
| Association between medication adherence and demographic and clinical factors | 1 year | This outcome will assess the association between medication adherence status (adherent vs non-adherent) and patient demographic characteristics (age, sex, education level, occupation, place of residence, income) as well as clinical factors (type of ACS, comorbidities, and treatment received). This analysis aims to identify population subgroups at higher risk of non-adherence. |
Countries
Nepal
Outcome results
None listed