effect of telephone training and follow-up on patients' adherence to the treatment regimen after myocardial infarction

Non-adherence to treatment increases complications and mortality after myocardial infarction. The present study aimed to assess the effect of education and telephone follow-up on patients' adherence to the treatment regimen after myocardial infarction.

This clinical trial study was performed on of 150 patients who were selected via convenience sampling method and assigned to three groups: control, intervention 1 (face-to-face training based on the training booklet), and intervention 2 (face-to-face training and follow-up telephone care). Patients in intervention group 2 were followed up by telephone for three months. Data were collected based on a questionnaire of adherence to the treatment regimen and demographic. Data analysis was performed in SPSS software (version 21) using ANOVA, Chi-square, Fisher, and Repeated Measures ANOVA.

The mean score of adherence at the beginning of the study was 64.60±8.13 (P<0.001). The mean score of adherence to treatment in all three groups was increased 1.5 months after the intervention; nonetheless, it was higher in intervention group 1 (face-to-face training) than that in other groups (81.69±5.12) (P<0.001). Three months after the intervention, the mean of adherence to treatment in intervention group 2 (face-to-face training and telephone follow-up) was higher than that in other groups (87.94±4.04) (P<0.001). During the three stages, no statistically significant difference was observed between the two methods of telephone follow-up and education alone (P=0.710).

Education with and without telephone follow-up leads to improved adherence to treatment; therefore, one of the two educational methods can be selected to increase patients' adherence to the treatment regimen.