Medication- and illness-related factual knowledge, perceptions and behaviour in angina pectoris patients

As part of a study in Danish internship pharmacies, 70 fourth-year pharmacy interns interviewed 123 angina pectoris patients. Information was collected about the patients’ medication- and illness-related factual knowledge and perceptions as well as their medication use. The results obtained showed that patients’ perceptions and factual knowledge about medications and illness varied greatly, and that they administered their medication in a variety of ways. Patients’ factual knowledge on illness, illness prevention and the function of medication was generally low. The patients were grouped in different categories according to their perceptions of illness and medication. A quarter had actively and reflectively self-regulated their medication and the rest of the patients did not do any deliberate self-regulation in terms of their medication. Half of the patients occasionally forgot to take their medication. Health care personnel should incorporate the results of this study in their efforts to improve patient counselling on illness, medication and other health-related matters.