Identifying eHealth Opportunities to Support Medication Adherence - Findings of a Focus Group Study.

Background: The burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among New Zealand (NZ) indigenous people (Māori) is well recognized. A major challenge to CVD risk management is to improve adherence to long-term medications.
Objectives: To elicit patients' and providers' perspectives on how to support Māori with high CVD risk and low medication adherence to achieve better adherence.
Methods: Analysis of electronic health records (EHR) of four NZ general practices identified medication adherence status of Māori patients with high CVD risk (≥15%, 5-year). A random sample of these patients participated in focus group discussions on barriers to long-term medication adherence. Their primary care providers also participated in separate focus groups on the same topic.
Results: A range of factors are identified influencing adherence behaviour, including patient's medication knowledge, patient-doctor communication effectiveness and cost.
Conclusion: Analysis of barriers to medication adherence in primary care suggests opportunities for health information technology to improve adherence, including patient education, decision support, clinician training and self-service facilities.