For patients with cardiovascular disease, following prescribed treatments—such as taking medication regularly, attending medical appointments, and making lifestyle changes—is essential for managing their condition and preventing complications. However, for patients with lifelong conditions, it can be hard to stick to their treatment.
What affects treatment adherence in cardiovascular disease?
Building on a recent literature review that revealed 227 factors affecting treatment adherence in patients with chronic diseases, iCARE4CVD identified 47 of these being specific challenges for patients with cardiovascular disease. These include challenges related to therapy such as accessibility of therapy, complexity of treatment and frequency of therapy sessions, as well as social and economic factors, such as work situation, personal and community resources and social support.
In addition, patient-related factors such as perceived disability, self-efficacy, beliefs about the effects of therapy and knowledge about the disease, symptoms and treatment are included.
Although many patient-related factors influencing treatment adherence have been described in various behaviour change models and theories, there is still a gap in applying these insights to real-world care.
In particular, we don’t yet fully understand how to effectively integrate the growing use of digital solutions—such as health tracking apps and wearables—into clinical practice in a way that truly supports patients in staying on track with their treatment.
A new motivational model to support treatment adherence in cardiovascular disease
To close this gap, iCARE4CVD is exploring the barriers to technology adherence and developing a motivational model that supports better self-care, strengthens treatment adherence, and promotes high-quality data entry and sharing through digital tools such as eHealth apps and wearables.
To bring this model to life, WP4 is collaborating closely with both patients and healthcare professionals in 4 tasks:
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Identifying barriers to appropriate treatment and technology adherence (Task 1). Understanding what prevents patients from sticking to their treatment or using digital tools, while taking into account the differences between patient groups.
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Developing new solutions (Task 2). Using motivational techniques and tools to help overcome these barriers. For example, by using a target group-oriented design, implementing extrinsic rewards such as points and badges provided by friends and healthcare professionals, and simplifying communication with healthcare professionals through simple platforms.
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Working directly with patients (Task 3). Ensuring that the solutions and strategies reflect patients’ needs and preferences around health decisions, precision medicine, using technology, and sharing their health data.
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Testing and refining the model (Task 4). The model will be verified, evaluated and validated by both patients and the iCARE4CVD team throughout its development.
Ultimately, the motivational model will offer a structured approach to understanding what drives—or holds back—patients in managing their health and using digital tools.
The end goal is to support the creation of personalised strategies—such as tailored messages, reminders, or goal-setting—designed to meet each individual’s needs and keep them actively engaged in their health and care.
How are patients involved in co-creating news solutions in iCARE4CVD?
Co-develop tailored sets of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) and Patient-Reported Experience Measures (PREMs) for different patient groups. Read more about the current iCARE4CVD research on PROMS and PREMs.
Support the creation of motivational frameworks to improve treatment and technology adherence. Read more about the outcomes of the first Patient Panel Kick-off meeting here.
Test the usability and acceptability of a new digital tool being developed by the project.
So far, a full Patient Panel has been established in Dublin, Ireland, with recruitment underway in Aachen, Germany, and more panels to follow. This marks the beginning of an exciting 3.5-year collaboration where patients will play a key role in shaping iCARE4CVD solutions.
