Today, the involvement of patients in their care is essential. As the population ages increases, the number of patients with chronic diseases is increasing. In the vascular medicine and surgery departments, patients are polymedicated and mostly suffer from several chronic diseases. Approximately 50% of patients with a chronic disease are not adherent. Among the factors that can influence therapeutic adherence are the beliefs and representations of patients.

To evaluate the beliefs and representations of chronic treatments in patients with multiple medications and hospitalised in a vascular medicine and surgery department, and to evaluate the medication adherence, the knowledge and the importance patients attach to their treatments.

Observational, prospective and a single-centre study.

The study was conducted in a French tertiary hospital centre of around 3000 beds in 9 institutions.

Adult polymedicated (ie, minimum of five chronic treatments) patients hospitalised in a vascular medicine and surgery department were included after application of the exclusion criteria.

Patient interviews were carried out in the department and were based on three interviewer-administered questionnaires (a global questionnaire, the Belief Medical Questionnaire and the GIRERD questionnaire).

Our study showed that patients perceived their treatments as beneficial rather than worrying. A correlation between medication adherence and beliefs was observed. ‘Non-adherent’patients had a more negative overall view of medication than ‘adherent’ patients. The level of compliance and knowledge of our patients was low. Only 11% of the patients were ‘good adherent’, 16% of the patients could perfectly name their treatment and 36% knew all the indications.

Knowledge of treatment representation and beliefs are central to understanding patient behaviour. Considering patients’ representations will allow the identification of levers, and the development of actions and educational tools adapted to improve their adherence, their knowledge and therefore their drug management.