Background: Long-term adherence is crucial for optimal treatment outcomes in chronic cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), especially throughout the COVID-19 wide-spreading periods, making patients with chronic CVDs vulnerable subjects.
Aim: To investigate the relationship between the characteristics, beliefs about prescribed medication, COVID-19 prevention measures, and medication adherence among patients with chronic CVDs.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of outpatients with chronic CVDs in Southern Vietnam. The specific parts regarding the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaires (BMQ-Specific) and the General Medication Adherence Scale (GMAS) were applied to assess the beliefs about and adherence to medication. The implementation measures to prevent COVID-19 in patients were evaluated according to the 5K message (facemask, disinfection, distance, no gathering, and health declaration) of the Vietnam Ministry of Health. A multivariable logistic regression with the Backward elimination (Wald) method was used to identify the associated factors of medication adherence.
Results: A slightly higher score in BMQ-Necessity compared to BMQ-Concerns was observed. A total of 40.7% of patients were recorded as having not adhered to their medications. Patients' behavior was most frequently self-reported by explaining their non-adherence (34.7%). Statistical associations were found between rural living place, unemployment status, no or only one measure(s) of COVID-19 prevention application, and medication adherence.
Conclusion: During the COVID-19 spreading stage, patients generally showed a positive belief about medication when they rated the importance of taking it higher than its side effects. The data analysis suggested that rather than patients' beliefs, the clinicians should consider the patient factors, including living place, employment, and the number of epidemic preventive measures applied for guiding the target patients for improving medication adherence.
Keywords: COVID-19; Vietnamese; beliefs about medication; chronic cardiovascular diseases; medication adherence.