The effect of training on treatment adherence in coronary artery patients: A single-blind randomised controlled trial

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of training, given by the nurses to coronary artery patients, on treatment adherence of the patients.

Treatment adherence can be defined as adherence of drug use and healthy lifestyle habits to healthcare recommendations. Training programmes enable to reduce healthcare expenditures and risk of mortality by increasing treatment adherence.

This study is a single-blind randomised controlled trial. The requirements of CONSORT statement were followed. The study was registered with clinicaltrial.gov. NCT04556006.

The study was conducted with 58 patients hospitalised in the cardiology clinic of a state hospital (intervention = 30 and control = 28). Personal information form, anthropometric measurements, Framingham risk score and compliance questionnaire were used to collect the data. After the first data of the patients were collected, the training on treatment adherence was provided to those in the intervention group. The content of the training was repeated in 2^nd , 4^th , 8^th and 12^th weeks. At the end of 12^th week, the data of the patients in both groups were collected again and evaluated.

Compliance questionnaire scores were 22.53 ± 5.48 in the intervention group and 22.25 ± 7.02 in the control group at the beginning of the study (p > .05); whereas, they were 32.33 ± 4.82 in the intervention group and 24.04 ± 5.98 in the control group at the end of 12^th week (p < .001). Improvement was observed in anthropometric measurements (weight, body mass index, waist circumference and hip circumference) of the patients in the intervention group.

Planned training given to coronary artery patients contributed positively to treatment adherence and anthropometric measurements.

While evaluating treatment adherence, not focussing on a single area, interrelated adherence areas should be evaluated together. The prepared adherence guide can be used in adherence training programmes to be applied on different societies.

The study was registered with clinicaltrial.gov (NCT04556006).