Guerrero, Analiza P.. Pictograms to improve antihypertensive medication adherence among patients with chronic kidney disease in a clinic setting. Retrieved from https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/t3-0trj-7h03
DescriptionPurpose of the Project. The purpose of the project was to implement pictograms to supplement textual and verbal instructions/information among patients with CKD to improve medication adherence in a clinic setting.
Methodology. A quality improvement, practice change pilot study was conducted in a private Nephrology and Hypertension clinic. The validated Hill-Bone Scale, a medication adherence Likert type scale, was administered to assess self-reported antihypertensive medication adherence among sixty-four CKD patients. Thirteen patients were identified as non-adherent and were referred for a medication review. Pictograms were used to supplement textual and verbal medication instructions and information during medication review. The thirteen identified nonadherent patients completed the Hill-Bone Scale again at the conclusion of the study period. Related-Samples Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test was used to measure changes in adherence.
Results. The results showed an improvement in antihypertensive medication adherence among CKD patients using the pictograms.
Implications for Practice. Medication nonadherence is a global health concern among patients with chronic health conditions such as chronic kidney disease (CKD), a long-term complication of hypertension. Medication nonadherence is associated with increased mortality and morbidity, and high healthcare costs. Literature suggests that the best approach to increasing medication adherence is combining evidence-based strategies and emerging practices that use an approach that is patient-centered with emphasis on the patient's ability to understand medication information and to follow instructions not only through textual and verbal but also visual cues.