The Effect of Health Belief Model-based Education on Empowering Cardiovascular Patients for Medication Adherence

Background: Medication adherence is one of the most significant factors in optimally controlling cardiovascular disease. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Health Belief Model (HBM)-based education on medication adherence of cardiovascular patients. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, participants were 45 patients discharged from CCU ward of Ali Ibn Abitalib Hospital in 2020, Rafsanjan, Iran. Participants allocated into intervention or control group by simple randomization. For five weeks, the intervention group received weekly medication adherence educational package using a mobile phone application, through the WhatsApp messenger. The control group received routine care. Data collected using demographic questionnaire and Morisky Drug Adherence scale as well as the researcher-made HBM questionnaire, before and three months after the intervention. The data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics and independent samples t-test, chi-square test and repeated measures ANOVA. Results: The drug adherence scores of the patients in the intervention group (6.63 ± 1.71) significantly increased than control group (5.29 ± 1.85) three months later (P = 0.006). Moreover, the mean score of the components of the HBM included perceived benefits, perceived self-efficacy and perceived barriers were significantly increased in the intervention group (P 0.001) Conclusions: Health Belief Model-based education through WhatsApp Messenger promote the drug adherence of cardiovascular patients, through improving self-efficacy, improving the understanding of the benefits as well as reducing perceived barriers. Therefore, utilizing this method may be a practical solution toward enhancing the drug adherence of cardiovascular patients.