Attitudes and behavior of peripheral arterial disease patients toward influencing their physician's prescription of cholesterol-lowering medication.

Abstract

Among 355 peripheral arterial disease (PAD) patients with low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels > or = 70 mg/dl, we assessed knowledge regarding optimal LDL levels and the importance of LDL-C-lowering therapy. We also assessed PAD participants' behaviors and attitudes regarding their engagement with their physician in treatment decisions for LDL-C lowering. The average baseline LDL-C level of participants was 103.4 mg/dl +/- 30.7 mg/dl. Seventy-six percent of participants were taking at least one cholesterol-lowering medication. Sixty-six percent were unable to define their optimal LDL-C. Only 47% strongly agreed that their own actions and decisions could reduce their LDL-C. Just 29.8% were aware that patients who request specific medications from their physician were more likely to receive them, and 16% had asked their physician whether they should be taking more cholesterol-lowering medication. These findings suggest that further study is needed to identify effective interventions to educate PAD patients and their physicians about the importance of cholesterol-lowering therapy and to encourage PAD patients to participate with their physician in decisions regarding cholesterol-lowering treatment. Clinical Trial Registration - URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00217919.

• Authors: Mary M McDermott, Kathleen M Mazor, George Reed, Sherry Pagoto, Rex Graff, Philip Merriam, Melina Kibbe, Philip Greenland, Judy Ockene, Barbara Olendzki, Huimin Tao, Ira Ockene
• Journal: Vascular medicine (London, England) (Vasc Med) Vol. 15 Issue 2 Pg. 83-90 (Apr 2010) ISSN: 1477-0377 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 20118170 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)

Chemical References

• Cholesterol, LDL
• Cholinergic Antagonists

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Ankle Brachial Index
• Atherosclerosis (drug therapy, metabolism, psychology)
• Attitude to Health
• Cholesterol, LDL (blood)
• Cholinergic Antagonists (therapeutic use)
• Drug Prescriptions
• Female
• Health Behavior
• Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
• Humans
• Male
• Medication Adherence (psychology)
• Middle Aged
• Patient Participation (psychology)
• Peripheral Arterial Disease (drug therapy, metabolism, psychology)
• Self Efficacy
• Surveys and Questionnaires