title: Patients' views about taking a polypill to manage cardiovascular risk: a qualitative study in primary care.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A 'polypill' containing a combination of antihypertensives and statins could prevent up to 80% of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate patients' opinions about the use of a polypill for CVD prevention.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative study of 17 patients from seven primary care practices in Birmingham, UK.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were recruited through purposive sampling to maximise variation of characteristics. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with responders. Results were analysed and reported using a qualitative description approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients expressed concerns that polypill prescription for primary prevention simply on the basis of age was unnecessary and would lead to side effects, despite recognising potential benefits. For high-risk patients, or for secondary prevention, a polypill was deemed more acceptable, but was still felt to require regular monitoring of blood pressure and cholesterol.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients were sceptical about the role of a polypill as a 'blanket' approach. If a population strategy offering a polypill to all people over a certain age was to be implemented, it would need to be supported by patient education.
authors.affiliation: Primary Care Clinical Sciences, NIHR National School for Primary Care Research, Primary Care Clinical Sciences Building, University of Birmingham, Birmingham.
authors.forename: Satnam K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Virdee
authors.affiliation: Primary Care Clinical Sciences, NIHR National School for Primary Care Research, Primary Care Clinical Sciences Building, University of Birmingham, Birmingham.
authors.forename: Sheila M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Greenfield
authors.affiliation: Primary Care Clinical Sciences, NIHR National School for Primary Care Research, Primary Care Clinical Sciences Building, University of Birmingham, Birmingham.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fletcher
authors.affiliation: Primary Care Health Sciences, NIHR National School for Primary Care Research, University of Oxford, Oxford.
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: McManus
authors.affiliation: Primary Care Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mant
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods*; D009017:Morbidity / Q000639:trends; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012307:Risk Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations
keywords: blood pressure; cardiovascular disease; cholesterol; patients’ views; polypill; prevention; primary care; risk factors