The Role of Information and Communication Technology in Predicting Adherence to Treatment in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

Background: Lack of adherence to cardiovascular therapies prevents the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions. The present study was conducted to determine the role of information and communication technology (ICT) in predicting adherence to treatment in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: This was a cross sectional study with a predictive correlational design that was performed on 400 patients with CAD referring to public and private cardiology clinics in Kashan, Iran, from Sep 2020 to July 2021. A consecutive sampling method was used to recruit the study subjects. Data were collected using a treatment adherence questionnaire and the researcher-made scale of Using Information and Communication Technology (UICT) and were analyzed using descriptive (frequency, mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistical (independent t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient test, and linear regression test) using SPSS 16.   Results: The mean score of treatment adherence and the using ICT was 64.5±13.4, and 42.22±16.6 respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the two variables of familiarity with ICT and the ICT utilization together predict 27% variance of treatment adherence in patients with CAD (P <0.001). Conclusion: Adherence to treatment was higher in patients who used ICT for health purposes. It is recommended that health professionals and policy makers take appropriate interventions to increase the ability of patients with CAD to use ICT.