Role of risk attitude and time preference in preventive aspirin use adherence

Background Poor adherence to medication that is taken chronically for the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) continues to occur. Poor adherence is a primary barrier to treatment success and affects not only the patient but also the health care system. Objective We aim to explore the impacts of risk attitudes and time preferences on the decisions of patients to begin and comply with aspirin therapy for CVD prevention. Methods Three hundred fifty-seven patients who used low-dose aspirin for CVD prevention under the guidance of their doctors completed the survey. The risk attitudes and time preferences of the patients were elicited using a multiple price list experiment. Logistic regression models were used to examine the predictors of adherence to aspirin use. Results Risk-seeking behaviours were significantly associated with both nonparticipation (P < .01) and lower compliance (P < .05) in patients. The coefficient for time preference was only significant at the 0.05 level for the decision to initiate aspirin use, which indicated that more impatient patients were less likely to begin with the use of aspirin. Forgetfulness in using aspirin on time and a lack of knowledge (as well as a lack of belief in the use of aspirin) could largely explain the poor adherence to aspirin therapy. Conclusions The identification of risk seekers and of those individuals who discount the future to a lesser degree may help providers to formulate tailored strategies to their patients, thus effectively enhancing their adherence to treatment.