title: Personal and social factors regarding medical non-compliance in cardiac failure patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the frequency and association of various personal and social factors with medical non-compliance in cardiac failure patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional, observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), Karachi from January to August 2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients admitted in the medical wards of NICVD, who were being treated for cardiac failure, were included. Information regarding basic demographics, education level, self engagement in therapy and status of compliance was obtained by questionnaire. Statistical analysis was carried out by using Fisher's exact test and chi-square. Level of significance was < 0.05. Data was analyzed using SPSS V-15.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 267 patients, 73 (27.3%) were compliant while 194 (72.7%) were non-compliant. Educated, self caring patient, and those who knew names of their medications were more compliant than the rest.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Medical non-compliance is very common in heart failure patients. Illiteracy and no self engagement in therapy are associated with non-compliance.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), Karachi.
authors.forename: Sayed Fayaz
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Mujtaba
authors.forename: Tariq
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Masood
authors.forename: Danial
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Khalid
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D002317:Cardiovascular Agents