Adherence to medication and self-management in stroke patients

Stroke is the third most common cause of mortality and one of the leading causes of adult physical disability in England. Medical treatment is imperative for the management of stroke and reducing the risk of recurrent stroke. The success of a medical treatment is determined largely by adherence. However, research has shown that adherence to medication in stroke patients is often suboptimal. Self-management interventions have been shown to improve adherence in long-term conditions, but their impact specifically on adherence to stroke medication is unknown. This paper systematically reviews the impact of self-management interventions on adherence to stroke medication. Six studies met the inclusion criteria. Self-management interventions were effective in improving adherence to stroke medication in the short term. However, in the longer term these benefits were not maintained. Thus, applying self-management interventions to improve medication adherence in stroke patients across integrated clinical settings shows promise. However, further development of such interventions and research is recommended, with more stringent methodologies and longer follow-up periods.