Research article

Improving the physician-patient cardiovascular risk dialogue to improve statin adherence

Linda Casebeer^{* 1} , Craig Huber^{* 2} , Nancy Bennett^{* 3} , Rachael Shillman^{* 1} , Maziar Abdolrasulnia^{* 1} , Gregory D Salinas^{* 1} and Sijian Zhang^{* 4}

¹Outcomes, Inc., 107 Frankfurt Circle, Birmingham, AL, USA

²AstraZeneca, 1800 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE, USA

³Consultant, Outcomes, Inc., 107 Frankfurt Circle, Birmingham, AL, USA

⁴University of Alabama, Birmingham, 514 E Ryals Public Health Bldg, Birmingham, AL, USA

author email corresponding author email* Contributed equally

BMC Family Practice 2009, 10:48doi:10.1186/1471-2296-10-48

Published:	30 June 2009

Abstract

Background

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a patient education program developed to facilitate statin adherence.

Methods

A controlled trial was designed to test the effectiveness of a multifaceted patient education program to facilitate statin adherence. The program included a brief, in-office physician counseling kit followed by patient mailings. The primary end point was adherence to filling statin prescriptions during a 120-day period. Patients new to statins enrolled and completed a survey. Data from a national pharmacy claims database were used to track adherence.

Results

Patients new to statin therapy exposed to a patient counseling and education program achieved a 12.4 higher average number of statin prescription fill days and were 10% more likely to fill prescriptions for at least 120 days (p = .01).

Conclusion

Brief in-office counseling on cardiovascular risk followed by patient education mailings can be effective in increasing adherence. Physicians found a one-minute counseling tool and pocket guidelines useful in counseling patients.