Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death in the United States. Patient adherence to medications, including antiplatelets and statins, is important in reducing morbidity and mortality. However, low health literacy rates and a lack of understanding of CAD and its commonly prescribed pharmacological interventions contribute to poor medication adherence. Recent research has shown that interventions to improve health literacy can improve medication compliance. This study aimed to further examine this concept through determining if the usage of a visual aid could improve CAD patients’ understanding of their condition and increase adherence to medications. A convenience-based, anonymous web survey was conducted among participants diagnosed with CAD or those taking statins or aspirin. Participants completed a pre- and post-survey surrounding a visual aid designed to improve understanding of CAD and its pharmacological management. A total of 9 participants completed the survey. While only 4 confirmed a diagnosis of CAD, all reported statin or aspirin use. Following the review of the visual aid, three participants increased their aspirin adherence, and one initiated statin use. Participants who reported a strong understanding of CAD were correlated with strong medication adherence. This study further confirmed that health literacy can impact medication adherence. Despite limitations including small sample size and self-reported data, the findings suggest a potential correlation between patient education through visual aids and medication compliance among patients with CAD and support the usage of educational tools into routine care.
