Purpose
The purpose of this study was to determine the levels of medication adherence in patients with heart failure and explore the factors related to it.
Methods
Cross-sectional and descriptive surveys were conducted in 107 patients with heart failure who visited C Hospital in D City. Data were collected from patients using self-report questionnaires between May 2015 and November 2016, and their medical records were identified. Data were analyzed using independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, and correlation and hierarchical multiple regression analyses using SPSS.
Results
The mean score of medication adherence was 10.23±2.70. Patients with long-term adverse effects showed worse medication adherence than those without long-term adverse effects (t=2.55, p=.012). Medication adherence positively correlated with depression (r=.34, p=.001) and barriers (r=.48, p=.001) but negatively correlated with attitude (r=-.39, p=.001). The hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that the model with two independent variables of long-term adverse effects (β=-.23, p=.008) and barriers (β=.37, p<.001) explained the 29.6% in medication adherence (F=11.93, p<.001).
Conclusion
To improve medication adherence, a nursing strategy to reduce long-term adverse effects and barriers accompanied by continuous monitoring is required.

Citations

• A predictive model for medication adherence in older adults with heart failure
  Eun Ha Oh, Chun-Ja Kim, Elizabeth A Schlenk
  European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing.2024; 23(6): 635.     CrossRef
• One‐year trajectories of self‐care behaviours and unplanned hospital readmissions among patients with heart failure: A prospective longitudinal study
  Youn‐Jung Son, Insil Jang
  Journal of Clinical Nursing.2023; 32(17-18): 6427.     CrossRef
• The Role of Depression on Treatment Adherence in Patients with Heart Failure–a Systematic Review of the Literature
  Valentina Poletti, Francesco Pagnini, Paolo Banfi, Eleonora Volpato
  Current Cardiology Reports.2022; 24(12): 1995.     CrossRef

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in smoking related characteristics and psychological features of coronary artery patients by the stages of change in smoking cessation behaviors. METHOD: Subjects for this survey were 97 patients who were smoking when doctors diagnosed them to have coronary artery diseases. RESULT: Subjects were distributed 21.6% in precontemplation stage, 24.7% in contemplation stage, 17.5% in preparation stage, 19.6% in action stage, and 16.5% in maintenance stage respectively. The numbers of previous attempts to quit smoking of subjects in precontemplation stage(mean=3.00, SD=3.71) and contemplation stage(mean=2.63, SD=2.32) were significantly lower than that of subjects in preparation stage(mean=5.82, SD= 6.20). Benefit scores of subjects in maintenance stage were significantly greater than those of subjects in precontemplation stage. Self-efficacy, barriers, seriousness, and nicotine dependency were not significantly different by the stages of change. Number of signs and symptoms related to smoking which subjects were experiencing were not significant by the stages of change too. CONCLUSION: Future intervention programs for smoking cessation should be focused on the strategies to enhance the realization of health benefits that patients might acquire from smoking cessation.

PURPOSE
This study was conducted to 1) find out the frequency of tobacco control intervention, barriers, and facilitators. 2) compare the differences in tobacco control intervention, barriers, and facilitators between oncology nurses and general nurses. METHOD: A sample was composed of 96 oncology nurses and 284 general nurses. The survey questionnaire was mailed out to nurses who were working at the randomly selected hospitals throughout the country. The questionnaire was adopted from the study of national survey on oncology nurse's tobacco interventions in United States by Sarnar, et al.(2000). RESULTS: Oncology nurses were found to provide tobacco control interventions more frequently comparing to the general nurses. "Patient not motivated to quit smoking", "Lack of time", "Lack of recognition/ rewards", were the most commonly identified barriers. "Patient wants to quit", "Adequate time", "Confidence in ability help people to stop smoking", were the most commonly identified facilitators. CONCLUSIONS: Although oncology nurses are in an important position in delivering tobacco interventions and providing resources, their participation in consistent delivery of a tobacco control intervention was less than desirable. To help nurses participate in the assessment of tobacco use and interventions for cessation, the development of educational program is necessary.