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 compliance with prescribed treatment 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 failure strategically selected from a primary health care clinic, a medical ward, and a specialist clinic. Results: Two hundred sixty critical incidents were identified in the interviews and 2 main areas emerged in the analysis: inward factors and outward factors. The inward factors described how compliance was influenced by the personality of the patient, the disease, and the treatment. The outward factors described how compliance was influenced by social activities, social relationships, and health care professionals. Conclusions: By identifying the inward and outward factors influencing patients with chronic heart failure, health care professionals can assess whether intervention is needed to increase compliance. (Heart Lung® 1999;28:334-41)