title: A health literacy pilot intervention to improve medication adherence using Meducation® technology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether antihypertensive medication adherence could improve using a Meducation® technology health literacy intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a six-month feasibility study among patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors receiving care from hospital-based primary care clinics. All patients received a personalized Meducation® calendar listing CVD-related medications. We evaluated changes in medication adherence and clinical outcomes at six months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a 42% enrollment rate (n=23). Forty percent had low health literacy, defined as less than 9th grade reading level. At three months, self-reported medication adherence improved. At six months, medication possession ratio improved 3.2%. Also, at six months there were decreases in patients' average systolic blood pressure (0.5 mmHg), diastolic blood pressure (1.5 mmHg), and body weight (3.6 pounds) (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A health literacy intervention may be a feasible mechanism to improve cardiovascular-related medication adherence and outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health literacy interventions may improve adherence while requiring relatively few resources to implement.
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care, Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, USA.
authors.forename: Leah L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Zullig
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care, Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, USA.
authors.forename: Felicia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: McCant
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care, Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, USA; Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA.
authors.forename: S Dee
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Melnyk
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care, Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, USA.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Danus
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care, Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, USA; Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Duke University, Durham, USA; School of Nursing, Duke University, Durham, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, Durham, USA. Electronic address: boswo001@mc.duke.edu.
authors.forename: Hayden B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Bosworth
mesh_terms: D001794:Blood Pressure; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D057220:Health Literacy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D009657:North Carolina; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D058014:Veterans Health
chemical_list: D002317:Cardiovascular Agents
keywords: Cardiovascular diseases; Health literacy; Medication adherence; Veteran's health