Secondary prevention for screening detected rheumatic heart disease: opportunities to improve adherence

Abstract

Background: Secondary prevention is an effective treatment for rheumatic heart disease (RHD), but ensuring high adherence to prophylaxis over many years is challenging and requires understanding of local factors.

Methods: Participants were young people diagnosed with RHD through echocardiographic screening in Fiji. We used a structured interview to evaluate the following: health seeking behaviours; attitudes, practice, barriers and potential improvement strategies for adherence to antibiotic prophylaxis; and adolescent-friendly qualities of the health service.

Results: One hundred and one participants were interviewed (median age, 17.2 years). Adherence was very low overall (adequate in 6%). Sore throat and fever with sore joints were experienced in the preceding year by 42% and 28%, respectively. Barriers to receiving treatment included taking alternate treatments and the perception that symptoms were benign and self-limiting. Reasons for missing prophylaxis injections included lack of awareness, feeling well, transport cost and access, and medication unavailability (>40% of participants each). The injection health service had many perceived strengths, but inclusion of adolescents in decision making, and quality of educational materials were deficiencies. Reminder strategies, particularly phone-based reminders, were considered helpful by 94%.

Conclusions: We identified several factors influencing secondary prevention that may be used to develop interventions to improve adherence.

Keywords: Adolescent; Benzathine penicillin G; Mass screening; Medication adherence; Rheumatic heart disease; Secondary prevention.