Extension of the theory of adherence to treatment in patients with coronary heart disease

Background: Increased knowledge of the concept of adherence is needed for development patient-centered care, nursing interventions, and guidelines for patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). The aim of this study was to test and extend the Theory of Adherence to Treatment regarding informational support in patients with CHD.Methods: The study utilized an explanatory and descriptive survey. The study was conducted in 2013 and involved 416 patients in five hospitals in Finland. The Adherence of Patients with Chronic Disease instrument and the Social Support for People with CHD instrument were used. The model was tested using structural equation modeling (SEM).Results: SEM confirmed direct associations between motivation (β = 0.49,p < 0.001) and results of care (β = 0.29,p < 0.01), and indirect associations between sense of normality, fear of complications, support from nurses and next of kin, and informational support to adherence to a healthy lifestyle and medication. Informational support included information and advice on CHD risk factors, physical exercise, chest pain, medication, continuum of care, and rehabilitation. Indirect standardized path coefficients varied between 0.14 and 0.45. The model explained 45% of adherence to a healthy lifestyle and medication.Conclusion: The results of this study showed that informational support is a justified extension to the original Theory of Adherence to Treatment in Patients with CHD. Informational support seems to offer a new perspective that can be used to develop patient-centered nursing interventions and thus support adherence to treatment by patients with a lifelong disease such as CHD.