Factors affecting Cardiovascular Patients’ Adherence in the hospitals of Kerman University of Medical Sciences based on the Health Belief Model

Medical adherence is one of the most important behaviors in the care of cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to determine the factors affecting cardiovascular patients’ adherence based on the Health Belief Model in 2016.

In this cross-sectional study, 420 cardiovascular patients admitted to Kerman University of Medical Sciences educating hospitals were chosen via convenience sampling, and data was collected by a researcher made questionnaire based on the Health Belief Model about factors effective on medical adherence. The data were analyzed using Chi-square, ANOVA, and t-test in SPSS software 21.

In this study, 40.5% of participants had a low level of adherence. There were significant relations between health belief model constructs together, and between adherence with perceived susceptibility, perceived barriers, and self-efficacy (p<0.001). The Health Belief Model predicted 33.7% of the variance in medical adherence (p<0.001).

According to the findings of this study the health belief model can be used in planning and intervening to improve medical adherence in cardiovascular patients. Developing an educational intervention based on the Health Belief Model is suggested for enhancing medical adherence among patients.