Abstract
Background
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) can be prevented with medication, but only about 50% of prescribed heart medications are taken as specified by the prescription. In a screening program for CVD, the effect will decrease if a major proportion of the participants do not adhere to the recommended treatment. This is an area lacking research, just as there is a need to explore if participants' health literacy and views on preventive medication may affect their treatment adherence.
Aim
To explore participants' views, expectations and experience as regards CVD screening and medicine intake as well as the impact of their health literacy and own health perceptions in relation to a screening program for CVD.
Method
Fifteen participants from a cardiovascular screening program for men aged 65-74 were interviewed before and one year after screening. The transcribed interviews came from a hermeneutic approach providing input to a thematic analysis.
Findings
1. Motivation for participating in the screening
- Felt healthy, but would still like to get the examination.
- Did not see any downside to the examinations; however, several participants failed to understand the information material provided on the examinations.
- Wanted to contribute to research.
- Knowledge of CVD and the associated risks.
2. Reactions to the examination and recommendation to the health care councils.
- Had difficulties remembering the examination and the diagnose given, if any.
- Followed preventive medical recommendations, but had not made any lifestyle changes.
- Did not want to take any preventive medication, ignored its effect and did not remember having an increased risk of CVD.
- Regarded preventive medication as life-sustaining in a family with a hereditary predisposition for CVD.
Preliminary conclusions from the findings
The informants were positive vis-à-vis the screening, although several of them did not understand all the information provided on the examinations. After a year, several of them found it difficult to account for the examination outcome. None of them had made any changes in their lifestyle, but most of them took the recommended preventive medication, except for those informants who had expressed negative views on the medication prior to the screening.
An optimised, user-friendly information material and a follow-up interview 3-4 months after the screening could enhance the general understanding of the screening, as well as the adherence to the preventive medical treatment.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) can be prevented with medication, but only about 50% of prescribed heart medications are taken as specified by the prescription. In a screening program for CVD, the effect will decrease if a major proportion of the participants do not adhere to the recommended treatment. This is an area lacking research, just as there is a need to explore if participants' health literacy and views on preventive medication may affect their treatment adherence.
Aim
To explore participants' views, expectations and experience as regards CVD screening and medicine intake as well as the impact of their health literacy and own health perceptions in relation to a screening program for CVD.
Method
Fifteen participants from a cardiovascular screening program for men aged 65-74 were interviewed before and one year after screening. The transcribed interviews came from a hermeneutic approach providing input to a thematic analysis.
Findings
1. Motivation for participating in the screening
- Felt healthy, but would still like to get the examination.
- Did not see any downside to the examinations; however, several participants failed to understand the information material provided on the examinations.
- Wanted to contribute to research.
- Knowledge of CVD and the associated risks.
2. Reactions to the examination and recommendation to the health care councils.
- Had difficulties remembering the examination and the diagnose given, if any.
- Followed preventive medical recommendations, but had not made any lifestyle changes.
- Did not want to take any preventive medication, ignored its effect and did not remember having an increased risk of CVD.
- Regarded preventive medication as life-sustaining in a family with a hereditary predisposition for CVD.
Preliminary conclusions from the findings
The informants were positive vis-à-vis the screening, although several of them did not understand all the information provided on the examinations. After a year, several of them found it difficult to account for the examination outcome. None of them had made any changes in their lifestyle, but most of them took the recommended preventive medication, except for those informants who had expressed negative views on the medication prior to the screening.
An optimised, user-friendly information material and a follow-up interview 3-4 months after the screening could enhance the general understanding of the screening, as well as the adherence to the preventive medical treatment.
| Originalsprog | Engelsk |
|---|---|
| Publikationsdato | 31 maj 2017 |
| Status | Udgivet - 31 maj 2017 |
| Begivenhed | ICN 2017 - Spain, Barcelona, Spanien Varighed: 27 maj 2017 → 1 jun. 2017 |
Konference
| Konference | ICN 2017 |
|---|---|
| Lokation | Spain |
| Land/Område | Spanien |
| By | Barcelona |
| Periode | 27/05/2017 → 01/06/2017 |