Relationship between adherence to secondary prevention and health literacy, self-efficacy and disease knowledge among patients with coronary artery disease in China

Background: Adherence to secondary prevention is an indispensable part of the management of patients with coronary artery disease. Finding patient factors affecting their adherence behaviours is important for improving the treatment effect and limiting further disease progression. Aims: To examine the association between health literacy, self-efficacy, disease knowledge and adherence to secondary coronary artery disease prevention in patients in China. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 598 patients with coronary artery disease were enrolled in two tertiary hospitals in China during a hospitalisation for receiving percutaneous coronary intervention. Patient-reported data were collected on demographics, health literacy, self-efficacy, disease knowledge and adherence to secondary coronary artery disease prevention (medication-taking and heart-healthy lifestyle (exercise, reducing/eliminating alcohol intake and smoking, low salt and fat diet, stress reduction)). Chi-squared tests and regression analyses were performed. Results: The proportions of recalled self-report of adherence to medication-taking and a heart-healthy lifestyle immediately prior to the coronary artery disease hospitalisation were 84.7% and 53.2%, respectively. In logistic regression, health literacy, self-efficacy and disease knowledge was significantly associated with non-adherence to secondary coronary artery disease prevention. Limited health literacy demonstrated a 1.61-fold odds for non-adherence to a heart-healthy lifestyle. Each score increase of self-efficacy and disease knowledge had 0.98-fold odds and 1.05-fold odds of non-adherence to a heart-healthy lifestyle. Conclusions: Adherence to medication-taking was relatively good in Chinese patients prior to coronary artery disease hospitalisation, but adherence to heart-healthy lifestyle behaviours should be improved. Health literacy, self-efficacy and disease knowledge should be taken into account when intervening to improve secondary coronary artery disease prevention.