Table 1.
Health Belief Model | Determinant1 | Technique2 | Practical applications/strategy | Materials |
---|---|---|---|---|
Perceived susceptibility Beliefs about the chances of getting another cardiovascular event |
Knowledge Lack of knowledge regarding prescribed medications and the influence on risk reduction |
Increase understanding Provide general information Risk communication Persuasive communication Group sessions with peers |
Group consultation: Providing general information about atherosclerosis Providing written material with information about cardiovascular medication and how it should be taken Providing general information about cholesterol and blood pressure and their influence on cardiovascular risk. Providing general information about cardiovascular medication and how it works. Discussion within a group of cardiovascular patients about being adherent and nonadherent to medication |
The group consultation was led by a pharmacist and a nurse. A PowerPoint was made containing information about the need for low cholesterol and low blood pressure and how to use the most common cardiovascular medication. All these information is also given to the patients in a brochure. Patients are invited to discuss their personal beliefs about their cardiovascular medication and the practical implications of taking medication on a daily base. |
Perceived severity Beliefs about the seriousness of that event and its consequences |
Patients beliefs, perception, and management of their illness (awareness, outcome expectations) Personal judgement of need for the medication influenced by perception and management of the disease: Not accepting their illness Thinking it is more benign than it is (because of absence of symptoms). |
Risk communication Feedback of clinical outcome Revaluation of outcomes, self-evaluation |
Personalized website: Visualization of the personal cardiovascular risk through a risk monitor Individual consultation: Evaluating the filled out questionnaires BMQ and MMS. Evaluating a medication taking diary |
A website where patients can log in to see their own cholesterol and blood pressure level was built. These levels are visualized as a speedometer. When at target level, an arrow is in the green part of the scale and when not at target level an arrow is in the red part of the scale. An intervention chart was created. It contained different topics according to the determinants of poor adherence with subsequent questions the nurse can ask specified for each topic. |
Perceived benefits Beliefs about the effectiveness of taking action to reduce risk. |
Patients beliefs, perception, and management of their medication(awareness) Personal judgement of need for the medication influenced by perception of prescribed medication. Negative associations with medication (in general or specific) and/or health care providers |
Persuasive communication Verbal persuasion Revaluation of outcomes, self-evaluation Feedback on clinical outcome |
Individual consultation: Consultations are given based on motivational interviewing and goal setting Evaluating the filled out questionnaires BMQ and MMS . Evaluating target levels Personalized website: Providing a risk monitor that will be green if outcome targets are achieved |
Nurses participating in this intervention (already trained in motivational interviewing) were trained .The program contained general information of poor adherence and the most common cardiovascular medication. Information was provided on how to achieve behavioral change and what the specific change objectives were in this intervention. The nurses then performed these consultations in a role play and were given feedback by the medical psychologist. At the end of the training day, documents which contained all the given information were provided. |
Perceived barriers Cue to action Self-efficacy |
Memory loss or forgetfulness Lack of knowledge or skills how to order new prescriptions or to set up memory cues |
Self-report of behavior Goal setting Plan coping responses Set graded tasks Use of cues Cope with side effects |
Let the patient keep a diary of his medication taking 2 weeks for each individual consultation Individual consultation: Talk with the patients about the barriers and effect and side effects of the medication If necessary the nurse and patient make a plan together how to overcome the barriers (eg, alarm devices, doses of medication at visible location) or when side effects occur switch medication The patient and nurse formulate a goal at the end of each consultation reflecting the barriers they evaluated |
In the brochure, there is a section where patients can fill in when they took their medication. Patients are asked to do at least 10 days before their individual consultation. In the individual consultation, the intervention chart also contains topics according to memory and skills (eg, ordering medication on time, forgetting medication) and possible solutions (eg, help ordering a dosette box) are provided. |
Abbreviations: MMS, Modified Morisky Scale; BMQ, Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire.