Anders Elkær Jensen, Jens Søndergaard, Niels Kristian Kjær, Jesper Bo Nielsen
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Failing to comprehend risk communication might contribute to poor treatment adherence. Using hypertension as a case, we investigated how a risk communication tool for patients with an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease was perceived. As part of a large project featuring a randomised controlled trial in a general practice setting in the Region of Southern Denmark, we conducted a semi-structured individual interview study. The study included patients with hypertension who had used an intervention comprising a visual and dynamic cardiovascular risk communication tool, along with receiving recurring emails providing advice on a healthy lifestyle. The analyses were based on Malterud’s Systematic Text Condensation. This article focuses solely on the results of the interview study, which comprised a total of 9 conducted and analysed interviews. The IT setup had a major impact on adherence to the intervention. A positive impact was found when the IT setup was perceived as easy to use and accessible, while a negative impact was noted when it malfunctioned. The intervention increased patients’ self-reported insight into risk of cardiovascular disease. Patients reported the intervention and their risk of cardiovascular disease to become less important to them when they had more severe comorbidities. The involved health professional was very important for treatment adherence when communicating risk visually. Patients expressed trust in their general practitioners, and the general practitioners’ attitudes toward the intervention affected patients’ perceptions of its usefulness. While the informants reported an increased awareness of their risk of cardiovascular disease, none of them felt more concerned. Patients reported an increase in their perceived insight into the risk of cardiovascular disease but not an increased concern. Our findings align with previous studies emphasizing the importance of patients’ motivation as well as risk perception for adherence. General practitioners have an important role when implementing new tools for patients.
期刊介绍:
BMC Family Practice is an open access, peer-reviewed journal that considers articles on all aspects of primary health care research. The journal has a special focus on clinical decision making and management, continuing professional education, service utilization, needs and demand, and the organization and delivery of primary care and care in the community.