Patients' self-estimated likelihood of taking a statin as prescribed after different types of prognostic information.
BACKGROUND
Statins are frequently used in cardiovascular prevention, however medication adherence is suboptimal.


OBJECTIVE
To examine if different types of prognostic information associated with prescription of a statin by physicians, can influence the self-estimated likelihood of taking the drug as prescribed, and to investigate whether patients want this type of information.


METHODS
A survey was performed in 313 patients diagnosed with CVD. Patients were presented to facts with relative risk reduction and absolute risk reduction figures associated with the use of a statin and the self-estimated likelihood of taking the drug as prescribed was registered after each given fact.


RESULTS
Self-estimated likelihood of taking the statin as prescribed was highest when the cardiologist recommended the drug without presenting absolute and relative risk reduction figures. Presenting relative risk reduction figures for the patients gave significantly higher self-estimated likelihood to take the statin as prescribed compared to giving the patients absolute risk reduction figures (p<0.001). A vast majority of the patients (84%) wanted to achieve information about risk reduction associated with the statin treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The patients wanted information about the CV risk reduction associated with the prescribed statin; however, the best self-estimated medication adherence was achieved when the cardiologist recommended the drug without presenting risk reduction figures.
Roshan
F
F
Division of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Oslo University Hospital and Oslo University, Trondheimsveien 235, 0514 Oslo, Norway.
Saeed
M
M
Agewall
S
S
D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012306:Risk; D012648:Self Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors