title: Improving the physician-patient cardiovascular risk dialogue to improve statin adherence.
abstract: 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.
authors: Outcomes, Inc, 107 Frankfurt Circle, Birmingham, AL, USA. linda.casebeer@ceoutcomes.com
authors: Linda
authors: L
authors: Casebeer
authors: Craig
authors: C
authors: Huber
authors: Nancy
authors: N
authors: Bennett
authors: Rachael
authors: R
authors: Shillman
authors: Maziar
authors: M
authors: Abdolrasulnia
authors: Gregory D
authors: GD
authors: Salinas
authors: Sijian
authors: S
authors: Zhang
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors