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. 2019 May 23;13:837–852. doi: 10.2147/PPA.S197481

Table 1.

Process evaluation: Method, corresponding determinants, techniques, practical applications, and the materials of the developed intervention (1=Determinants of the Health Belief Model, 2=Definitions according to the taxonomy of behavior change techniques by Abraham and Michie46 and de Bruin et al48)

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.