The mediating role of stroke awareness in the relationship between medication adherence and health perception in patients with atrial fibrillation

This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between treatment adherence and health perception in patients with atrial fibrillation, and to determine the mediating role of stroke awareness in this relationship. The study was completed with a total of 208 patients between October 30, 2024, and June 30, 2025. Data were collected using the "Patient Information Form," "Medication Adherence Reporting Scale," and "Health Perception Scale." The mean age of the patients in the study was 64.75 ± 12.74 years, and 62% of them were found to have stroke awareness. It was determined that the mean score of the patients for medication adherence was high at 23.03 ± 2.95, and the mean score of their health perception was moderate at 42.08 ± 6.79. There was a positive and significant relationship between medication adherence and health perception, and a negative and significant relationship (β=-0.138; p<0.001) was found between stroke awareness and health perception and medication adherence (β=-0.704; p<0.001). The direct effect of health perception on medication adherence was found to be positive and significant (β=0.150; p<0.001). There was a negative and significant relationship between health perception and medication adherence, and this Stroke awareness was found to have a mediating role in the relationship (β=0.225; p<0.001). As a result, it was determined that patients' health perception was moderately high, and medication adherence was high, and more than half had stroke awareness. It was determined that as patients' health perception levels increased, their medication adherence also increased. Stroke awareness was found to have a mediating role in the relationship between stroke awareness, medication adherence, and perceived health.