Patients' Beliefs about Their Heart Failure Medications: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Abstract

Background: The Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ) is a validated tool that has been correlated with medication adherence.

Objectives: To determine patients' beliefs about their heart failure (HF) medications and their self-reported adherence.

Methods: In this prospective cross-sectional survey of community-dwelling adult patients with any type of HF, beliefs were assessed using the BMQ. Self-reported adherence was assessed using the 5-item Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS-5). Data were collected between January and May 2024. The primary outcome was the BMQ necessity-concerns differential (NCD).

Results: Thirty-five patients completed the survey. The mean age was 63.9 years, and 22 (63%) of the patients were women. Thirteen patients (37%) self-reported having HF with reduced ejection fraction. The mean NCD was 7.8 (range -20 to +20). The mean BMQ subscale scores were as follows: general-harm, 8.8 out of 25; general-overuse, 8.1 out of 15; specific-necessity, 20.7 out of 25; and specific-concerns, 12.9 out of 25. The mean MARS-5 score was 22.3 out of 25.

Conclusions: The positive value for mean NCD indicated that patients' beliefs about the necessity of their HF medications exceeded their concerns. Self-reported adherence was high.