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Predictors of Adherence to Secondary Preventive Medication in Stroke Patients

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

Objective

The purpose of this study is to identify factors which predict adherence in stroke survivors.

Design

This is a longitudinal study where 180 stroke survivors were assessed 1 year after their first ischaemic stroke. The relationship between adherence and illness and medication beliefs was tested at baseline (time 1) and again 5–6 weeks later (time 2).

Main Outcome Measures

The main outcome measures used in this study are Medication Adherence Report Scale and urinary salicylate levels.

Results

Four variables predicted time 1 poor adherence: (1) younger age, (2) increased specific concerns about medications, (3) reduced cognitive functioning and (4) low perceived benefit of medication. Three out of these four variables were again predictive of time 2 adherence and accounted for 24% of the variance: (1) younger age, (2) increased specific concerns about medications and (3) low perceived benefit of medication. The urinary salicylate assay failed to differentiate between patients taking and not taking aspirin.

Conclusion

Interventions to improve adherence should target patients’ beliefs about their medication.

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Acknowledgements

We would also like to thank Dr. Julie Chambers, Dr Carolyn Choudhary and three anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments on a previous version of this paper.

We would also like to thank the patients and partners for their participation. Finally, we acknowledge the grant support provided by the Chief Scientist Office-Scotland, Health Services Research Committee, grant reference CZH/4/297.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have no conflict of interest to disclose.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychology Department, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, UK

    Ronan O’Carroll Ph.D., Jennifer Whittaker M.Sc. & Barbara Hamilton B.Sc.

  2. School of Psychology, William Guild Building, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 2UB, UK

    Marie Johnston Ph.D.

  3. Division of Clinical Neurosciences, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK

    Cathie Sudlow D.Phil. & Martin Dennis M.D.

Authors
  1. Ronan O’Carroll Ph.D.
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  2. Jennifer Whittaker M.Sc.
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  3. Barbara Hamilton B.Sc.
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  4. Marie Johnston Ph.D.
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  5. Cathie Sudlow D.Phil.
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  6. Martin Dennis M.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ronan O’Carroll Ph.D..

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O’Carroll, R., Whittaker, J., Hamilton, B. et al. Predictors of Adherence to Secondary Preventive Medication in Stroke Patients. ann. behav. med. 41, 383–390 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-010-9257-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-010-9257-6

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