Factors influencing patient compliance with therapeutic regimens in chronic heart failure: A critical incident technique analysis

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify factors influencing compli ance with prescribed treat ment in patients with chronic heart failure. METHODS: A qualitative design with a critical incident technique was used. Incidents were collected through interviews with 25 patients with heart fai lure strategically selected from a primary health care clinic, a medical wa rd, and a specialist clinic. RESULTS: Two hundred sixty critical incidents were identified in the interv iews and 2 main areas emerged in the analysis: inward factors and outward f actors. The inward factors described how compliance was influenced by the p ersonality of the patient, the disease, and the treatment. The outward fact ors described how compliance was influenced by social activities, social re lationships, and health care professionals. CONCLUSIONS: By identifying the inward and outward factors influencing pati ents with chronic heart failure, health care professionals can assess wheth er intervention is needed to increase compliance.