Motivation is a crucial factor for adherence to a healthy lifestyle among people with coronary heart disease after percutaneous coronary intervention

Aim To test the Theory of Adherence of People with Chronic Disease with regard to adherence to treatment among patients with coronary heart disease after a percutaneous coronary intervention. Background Increased knowledge of the concept of adherence is needed for the development of nursing interventions and nursing guidelines for patients with coronary heart disease. Design A cross‐sectional, multi‐centre study. Methods This study was conducted from February–December 2013 with 416 patients with coronary heart disease 4 months after undergoing a percutaneous coronary intervention. A self‐reported questionnaire was used to assess their adherence to treatment. Data were analysed using structural equation modelling. Results The theory explained 45% of the adherence to a healthy lifestyle and 7% of the adherence to medication. Structural equation modelling confirmed that motivation and results of care had the highest association with adherence to a healthy lifestyle. Responsibility was associated with adherence to medication. Support from next of kin, support from nurses and physicians, and motivation, co‐operation, fear of complications and a sense of normality were associated with adherence. Conclusion Patients who are motivated to perform self‐care and consider the results of care to be important were more likely to adhere to a healthy lifestyle. Responsible patients were more likely to adhere to their medication. It is important to account for these elements as a part of secondary prevention strategies among patients with coronary heart disease after a percutaneous coronary intervention.