Improving the physician-patient cardiovascular risk dialogue to improve statin adherence.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a patient education program developed to facilitate statin adherence.


METHODS
A controlled trial was designed to test the effectiveness of a multifaceted patient education program to facilitate statin adherence. The program included a brief, in-office physician counseling kit followed by patient mailings. The primary end point was adherence to filling statin prescriptions during a 120-day period. Patients new to statins enrolled and completed a survey. Data from a national pharmacy claims database were used to track adherence.


RESULTS
Patients new to statin therapy exposed to a patient counseling and education program achieved a 12.4 higher average number of statin prescription fill days and were 10% more likely to fill prescriptions for at least 120 days (p = .01).


CONCLUSIONS
Brief in-office counseling on cardiovascular risk followed by patient education mailings can be effective in increasing adherence. Physicians found a one-minute counseling tool and pocket guidelines useful in counseling patients.
Casebeer
Linda
L
Outcomes, Inc, 107 Frankfurt Circle, Birmingham, AL, USA. linda.casebeer@ceoutcomes.com
Huber
Craig
C
Bennett
Nancy
N
Shillman
Rachael
R
Abdolrasulnia
Maziar
M
Salinas
Gregory D
GD
Zhang
Sijian
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors