Table 3.

Data extraction for all intervention studies identified in the systematic review process (k=27)

Author	Study details				Participant characteristics
	Year	Country	Design, setting	Sample size	Sample characteristics	Control group
Calvert et al 22	2012	USA	RCT, multi-site (n=2)	143	Median age: IG=63, CG=62; male: IG=66%, CG=61%; White: IG=51%, CG=51%	Usual care: routine discharge counselling and discharge summary sent to community physician.
Cossette et al 23	2012	Canada	RCT, single site	242	Mean age: IG=59, CG=59; male: IG=81%, CG=90%	Usual care: received standard predischarge care. Encouraged to use regular healthcare resources postdischarge.
Costa e Silva et al 24	2008	Brazil	RCT, single site	153	Mean age: IG=58, CG=59; male: IG=63%, CG=64%	Usual care: standard outpatient follow-up with a cardiologist.
Du et al 25	2016	China	RCT, single site	979	Mean age: IG=60, CG=62; male: IG=73%, CG=72%	Usual care: standard follow-up with research nurse.
Giallauria et al 26	2009	Italy	RCT, single site	52	Mean age: IG=58, CG=57; male: IG=85%, CG=85%	Usual care: following standard 3-month cardiac rehab, patients were discharged with usual routine recommendations and were seen only at the 12-month and 24-month follow-up.
Giannuzzi et al 27	2008	Italy	RCT, multi-site (n=78)	3241	Mean age: IG=58, CG=58; male: IG=86%, CG=87%	Usual care: a letter sent to the family physician recommending secondary prevention goals followed by standard cardiac rehab and follow-up.
Gould28	2011	USA	RCT, single site	129	NR	Usual care: patients received routine discharge materials and usual care.
Gujral et al 29	2014	Australia	RCT, single site	200	Mean age: IG=58, CG=60; male: IG=77%, CG=80%	Usual care: medication beliefs not communicated to their community pharmacist. The community pharmacists were asked to provide the patient with usual care when they collected their prescription medications.
Ho et al 30	2014	USA	RCT, multi-site (n=4)	253	Mean age: IG=64, CG=64; male: IG=98%, CG=98%; White: IG=82%, CG=75%	Usual care: patients received standard ACS hospital discharge instructions, a discharge medication list and educational information about cardiac medications. A 12-month clinic visit was scheduled.
Jalal et al 32	2016	UK	RCT, single site	71	Mean age=NR; male=76%	Usual care: following predischarge counselling from the hospital pharmacist, patients refilled their prescriptions at their usual pharmacies.
Jorstad et al 31	2013	Netherlands	RCT, multi-site (n=11)	733	Mean age: IG=58, CG=58; male: IG=80%, CG=80%	Usual care: outpatient clinic visits to treating cardiologists and other relevant specialists. Patients were referred to cardiac rehab according to national guidelines.
Kotowycz et al 33	2010	Canada	RCT, single site	54	Mean age: IG=56, CG=55; male: IG=81%, CG=70%	All discharge planning and follow-up were left to the treating physician and nursing team.
Kronish et al 34	2012	USA	RCT, multi-site (n=5)	177	Mean age: IG=59, CG=61; male: IG=46%, CG=47%	Usual care: treating physicians notified about their patients’ depressive status. Patients given appropriate care for depressive symptoms.
Lapointe et al 35	2006	Canada	RCT, single site	127	Mean age: IG=58, CG=57; male: IG=89%, CG=78%	Standard follow-up with patients’ regular physician.
Miller et al 36	1988	USA	RCT, multi-site (n=3)	103	Mean age=NR (range 30 - 65); male: IG=73%, CG=89%; White: IG=98%, CG=87%	Usual care: all patients had received standard inpatient cardiac rehab.
Miller et al 37	1989	USA	RCT, multi-site (n=3)	81	Mean age=54; male=81%	Usual care: all patients had received standard inpatient cardiac rehab.
Miller et al 38	1990	USA	RCT, multi-site (n=3)	51	Mean age=55; male=76%	Usual care: all patients had received standard inpatient cardiac rehab.
Muñiz et al 39	2010	Spain	RCT, multi-site (n=64)	1757	Mean age: IG=62, CG=64; male: IG=78%, CG=76%	Usual care.
Najafi et al 40	2016	Iran	RCT, single site	100	Mean age: IG=59, CG=58; male: IG=54%, CG=38%	Routine care including check-ups with designated physician.
Polack et al 41	2008	Canada	RCT, single site	10	Mean age: IG=59, CG=65; male: IG=80%, CG=100%	Usual care: standard predischarge nurse education.
Polsook et al 42	2016	Thailand	RCT, single site	44	Mean age: IG=61, CG=63; male: IG=86%, CG=86%	Usual care in the cardiac inpatient department that included education about patients’ condition and treatment.
Redfern et al 44	2008	Australia	RCT, single site	144	Mean age: IG=62, CG=67; male: IG=74%, CG=75%	Ongoing conventional care determined by patients’ family physician and cardiologist.
Redfern et al 43	2009	Australia	RCT, single site	144	Mean age: IG=62, CG=67; male: IG=74%, CG=75%	Usual care: received medical treatment, including pharmacotherapy and lifestyle counselling, as determined by their usual doctors.
Uysal and Ozcan45	2015	Turkey	RCT, multi-site (n=2)	90	Mean age=NR (47% between 45-54); male: IG=80%, CG=76%	Received home education kit comprised of brochures about healthy living post-MI. Not provided with telephone counselling and education.
Xavier et al 46	2016	India	RCT, multi-site (n=14)	806	Mean age: IG=56, CG=57; male: IG=82%, CG=83%	Standard care: patients were asked to alert the research team to any hospital visits that they planned.
Sharma et al 47	2016	India	RCT, single site	100	Mean age: IG=57, Con=61; Male total=84%	Usual care.
Yorio et al 48	2008	USA	RCT, single site	144	Median age: IG=56, CG=56; male: IG=67%, CG=57%; White: IG=32%, CG=35%	Usual care: standard postdischarge care that included appointments with a cardiologist and family physician within 3 months.

Author	Methodological features
	Intention to treat	Follow-up	Adherence as an outcome	Primary outcome	Adherence measurement	Sessions
Calvert et al 22	Not stated	6 months	Primary	Medication adherence	Self-report; MMAS-4; PDC	4
Cossette et al 23	Not stated	6 weeks	Secondary	Cardiac rehab attendance	MMAS-4	3
Costa e Silva et al 24	Yes	6 months	Primary (one of)	Clinical improvement index (including medication adherence)	Self-report	2
Du et al 25	Not stated	36 months	Secondary	Mortality and MACE	MMAS-4	6
Giallauria et al 26	Not stated	24 months	Secondary	Cardiopulmonary parameters and cardiovascular risk profile (including medication adherence)	Self-report	24
Giannuzzi et al 27	Yes	36 months	Secondary	MACE	Self-report	11
Gould28	Not stated	3 days	Primary (one of)	Medication adherence, use of urgent care, patient satisfaction and illness perceptions	MMAS-4	1
Gujral et al 29	Not stated	12 months	Primary (one of)	Medication adherence and treatment beliefs	MARS; MPR	2
Ho et al 30	Yes	12 months	Primary	Medication adherence	PDC	4
Jalal et al 32	Not stated	6 months	Primary	Medication adherence	MMAS-8	1
Jorstad et al 31	Not stated	12 months	Secondary	Lifestyle and biometric targets	Self-report	4
Kotowycz et al 33	Yes	6 weeks	Secondary	MACE	Self-report	4
Kronish et al 34	Yes	6 months	Primary (one of)	Adherence to medication, heart healthy diet, regular exercise and smoking cessation	Self-report	NR
Lapointe et al 35	Not stated	18 months	Secondary	LDL-C targets	Prescription refills	NR
Miller et al 36	Not stated	60 days	Primary	MRA	HBS	3
Miller et al 37	Not stated	12 months	Primary	MRA	HBS	3
Miller et al 38	Not stated	24 months	Primary	MRA	HBS	3
Muñiz et al 39	Not stated	6 months	Primary (one of)	Behavioural and clinical targets (including medication adherence)	Self-report	2
Najafi et al 40	Not stated	3 months	Primary	Medication adherence	MMAS-8	6
Polack et al 41	Not stated	6 weeks	Primary (one of)	Medication adherence and knowledge retention	MMAS-4	2
Polsook et al 42	Not stated	4 weeks	Primary (one of)	Medication adherence and self-efficacy	Pill count	14
Redfern et al 43	Yes	3 months	Secondary	Behavioural and clinical targets	Self-report	5
Redfern et al 44	Yes	12 months	Secondary	Behavioural and clinical targets	Self-report	5
Uysal and Ozcan45	Not stated	3 months	Primary (one of)	Physical activity, medication adherence, anginal symptoms	MMAS-4	3
Xavier et al 46	Yes	12 months	Primary	Medication adherence	CMAS	18
Sharma et al 47	Yes	24 months	Primary	Mediation adherence	CMAS	10
Yorio et al 48	Not stated	12 months	Secondary	Improved LDL-C profile	Prescription refills	1

Author	Intervention features
	Interventionist	Delivery method	Theoretical basis	Intervention summary
Calvert et al 22	Pharmacist	In person and phone	Not stated	Predischarge counselling covering the importance and purpose of medications and barriers to adherence. Pocket medication card, cheat sheet (tips for remembering) and pillbox also provided. Regular follow-up with community pharmacist to discuss adherence-related issues.
Cossette et al 23	Nurse	In person and phone	CS-SRM	Predischarge counselling session: symptom and physical activity management, coherence around illness episode, concerns/worries. Postdischarge counselling sessions: disease management, concerns/worries and intentions about risk factor modification, problem solving.
Costa e Silva et al 24	MDT (included nurse)	In person only	Not stated	Transdisciplinary outpatient care provided. Detailed treatment planning and follow-up with nurse, dietitian, endocrinologist and cardiologist. HCPs collaborated to reinforce lifestyle change and formulate a care plan.
Du et al 25	Physician (cardiologist)	Phone only	Not stated	Physician-led intensive telephone follow-up over 36 months. Patients provided with additional health education, disease-prevention suggestions and consultations on medication usage. Face-to-face visits were scheduled if necessary.
Giallauria et al 26	MDT (included nurse)	In person only	Not stated	Monthly hospital meetings to discuss lifestyle change and engage in exercise training. Received a booklet about lifestyle change and promoting patients’ role in their healthcare. Encouraged family support throughout.
Giannuzzi et al 27	MDT (included nurse)	In person only	Not stated	Comprehensive cardiac rehab sessions that included exercise training and lifestyle and risk factor counselling. Encouraged family support throughout. Pharmacological treatments positively recommended to all patients. Received booklet to support lifestyle change and patient empowerment.
Gould28	Nurse	Phone only	CS-SRM	Patients received written discharge materials, telephone follow-up by an expert, medication review materials, a medication pocket card and suggested websites.
Gujral et al 29	Pharmacist	In person and phone	NCF	Tailored intervention targeting treatment beliefs. Beliefs and attitudes towards treatment elicited using repertory grid technique and then communicated to the community pharmacist. Information used to tailor their discussions with the patient during follow-up. Patient also reviewed monthly by community pharmacist to discuss adherence-related issues.
Ho et al 30	Pharmacist	In person and phone	Not stated	Pharmacist-led postdischarge medication reconciliation and follow-up. Predischarge and postdischarge education sessions with pharmacist followed by automated educational voice messages. Use of pill boxes to organise medications. Increased communication between pharmacists and patients’ care team. Automated voice reminders to refill prescriptions.
Jalal et al 32	Pharmacist	In person and phone	Not stated	Community pharmacist-led motivational interview aimed at improving protective cardiovascular medicine taking. Consultations were delivered as part of the New Medicine Service or a Medication Usage Review (established UK NHS pharmacy services).
Jorstad et al 31	Nurse	In person only	Not stated	Outpatient visits with a nurse: educational sessions targeted lifestyle change and risk factor management. Lifestyle and risk factors reviewed and patients received individual counselling. Medication adherence encouraged and reasons for discontinuation discussed.
Kotowycz et al 33	Nurse	In person and phone	Not stated	Nurse-led patient education about the nature and management of their cardiac disease, with a focus on medications and facilitation of discharge planning.
Kronish et al 34	Other (problem-solving therapist)	In person only	Not stated	Patients given a choice of either PST and/or pharmacotherapy. Weekly PST sessions were brief, problem focused and designed to augment self-efficacy and address psychosocial issues. Focus also on the initiation of pleasant activities. Patients given choice of different pharmacotherapy.
Lapointe et al 35	Nurse	Phone only	Not stated	Patients received postdischarge letter and phone call concerning risk factor education and management. Clinical goals (lipid profile) set and patients received additional intervention from their physician if goals not met. Compliance assessment with pharmacist conducted at 12 and 18 months.
Miller et al 36	Nurse	In person only	TRA	Intervention included an assessment (addressing attitudes, beliefs and intentions), problem identification (coping and societal adjustment) and developing a detailed health plan. Spouses were encouraged to participate.
Miller et al 37	Nurse	In person only	TRA	Intervention included an assessment (addressing attitudes, beliefs and intentions), problem identification (coping and societal adjustment) and developing a detailed health plan. Spouses were encouraged to participate.
Miller et al 38	Nurse	In person only	TRA	Intervention included an assessment (addressing attitudes, beliefs and intentions), problem identification (coping and societal adjustment) and developing a detailed health plan. Spouses were encouraged to participate.
Muniz et al 39	Physician	In person only	Not stated	Focused on the patient-provided relationship. Discharge interview included a signed agreement of secondary prevention care plan and comprehensive written material about risk factor management. During a follow-up session, agreement reviewed and adapted if necessary.
Najafi et al 40	Researcher (nurse)	Phone only	Not stated	Nurse-led follow-up telephone calls based on lifestyle counselling and education. Agreed behavioural objectives were reviewed and barriers were addressed through problem solving. Family participation was encouraged throughout.
Polack et al 41	Pharmacist	In person only	Not stated	Received predischarge pharmacist-led education around the benefits and risks of cardiac medications. Sessions included use of a patient education tool.
Polsook et al 42	Researcher (nurse)	In person and phone	Not stated	Comprised a 4-week self-efficacy enhancement program that targeted patients’ motivation to be adherent, skills development and adherence self-monitoring.
Redfern et al 43	Other (physiotherapist)	In person and phone	Not stated	Based around risk factor assessment and goal setting. Patients chose their risk factor module and self-committed to a written action plan. Received a resource pack that included information leaflets. Follow-up sessions tested patients’ knowledge of their risk factors. Personal goals were also identified and positive. Risk-lowering behaviour recorded.
Redfern et al 44	Other (physiotherapist)	In person and phone	Not stated	Based around risk factor assessment and goal setting. Patients chose their risk factor module and self-committed to a written action plan. Received a resource pack that included information leaflets. Follow-up sessions tested patients’ knowledge of their risk factors. Personal goals were also identified and positive. Risk-lowering behaviour recorded.
Uysal and Ozcan45	Researcher (nurse)	In person and phone	Not stated	Individualised education plans around lifestyle and risk factor management. Received access to a computer-based education along with brochures on lifestyle changes post-MI. Telephone counselling during follow-up addressing negative health behaviours, including treatment non-adherence.
Xavier et al 46	Other: community health worker	In person and phone	Not stated	Involved personalised counselling to help overcome barriers to adherence and lifestyle modification. Also received an adherence calendar to record medication taking and were asked to complete diaries, which included information about their medications. Family participation encouraged.
Sharma et al 47	Other: community health worker	In person and phone	Not stated	Involved personalised counselling to help overcome barriers to adherence and lifestyle modification. Also received an adherence calendar to record medication taking and were asked to complete diaries, which included information about their medications. Family participation encouraged.
Yorio et al 48	Nurse or pharmacist	In person only	Not stated	Postdischarge session with nurse or pharmacist. Session included full medication review and titration, risk factor counselling and discussion/referral to cardiac rehab and other HCPs (dietician and/or smoking cessation service).

ACS, acute coronary syndrome; CG, control group; CMAS, Composite Medication Adherence Score; CS-SRM, Common-Sense Model of Self-Regulation; HBS, Health Behaviour Scale; HCP, healthcare provider; IG, intervention group; LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; MACE, major adverse cardiac events; MARS, Medication Adherence Report Scale; MDT, multidisciplinary team; MI, myocardial infarction; MMAS-4, Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (4-item); MMAS-8, Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (8-item); MPR, medication possession ratio; MRA, medical regimen adherence; NCF, necessity concerns framework; NR, not reported; PDC, proportion of days covered; PST, problem-solving therapy; RCT, randomised controlled trial; TRA, theory of reasoned action.