Case Study: Empowering people living with acute coronary syndrome taking oral anti-platelet medication
Background
The Challenge
-
Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) is a group of life-threatening heart conditions, including heart attack.
-
ACS requires urgent treatment and is associated with a high risk of further cardiac events if not managed properly.
-
Although standard care after a heart attack includes one year of oral anti‑platelet medication, many discontinue the treatment after initiation, despite potential consequences of heart attack and death.
Our Behavior Change Approach
-
A research and evidence-based approach shaped the solution design and uncovered the drivers of nonadherence.
-
This included a literature review, qualitative and quantitative research with patients and cardiac physicians, and cardiac nurse specialist focus groups.
-
A joint working initiative was developed in conjunction with the National Health Service (NHS) to shape the initiative.
The Solution
OneHeart, a multichannel support program, was designed to modify the way patients think about their disease and treatment through psychoeducation and interactive cognitive behavioral therapy challenges.
OneHeart included a comprehensive hospital discharge pack, personalized nurse calls, a magazine series, SMS and email interventions, and a personalized web portal with tailored digital content.
The Impact
-
93% of OneHeart program patients remained persistent at 13–24 weeks post-enrolment vs 82% at 3 months for non-program ACS patients (IMS data, 2007).
-
No patients missed, stopped, or altered doses of their oral anti-platelet medication.
-
The OneHeart program also positively impacted lifestyle changes: 68% reported increased physical activity, 78% had changed their diet and 100% had quit smoking.