Hypertensive patients' experience with adherence therapy for enhancing medication compliance: a qualitative exploration

Aims and objectives To investigate the experience of non-compliant hypertensive patients who had received seven sessions of adherence therapy (AT) as part of a randomised controlled trial. Background AT is a patient-centred approach used to explore patient attitudes, beliefs and discrepancy toward medications that aimed to enhance patients' medication-taking behaviour. Design Qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews with patients who had completed an AT intervention. Methods A convenience sample of 10 hypertensive patients who received AT as part of an exploratory randomised controlled trial (ISRCTN99494659) were included. Thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews exploring patient's views and experiences of AT was used. Results Five major themes of AT emerged; modifying attitudes and beliefs, positive impact on self efficacy, therapist motivation, positive impact on well-being and a well-designed intervention. Conclusions patients' views about the benefit of AT were entirely consistent with our proposed mechanism of action for this intervention; that is by improving patient's beliefs and attitudes regarding taking drugs, and finding solutions to barriers that prevent adherence, patients become more complaint with their medication which in turn has a positive impact on clinical outcomes [i.e. blood pressure, hypertension complication (stroke, myocardial infarction, and recurrent hospitalisation)]. Relevance to clinical practice Exploring patients' experience with AT and recognising these five elements help in tailoring a new effective strategy according to individual needs for enhancing adherence to prescribed drugs.