Conhecimento de portadores de hipertensão arterial acerca de seu tratamento.

Abstract

Arterial hypertension is the main risk factor for death among non-communicable diseases, showing a direct and positive relationship with cardiovascular risk. However, despite progress in prevention, diagnosis and treatment, it is still an important public health problem. Objective: To investigate the knowledge of patients with arterial hypertension about the treatment adopted for it. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out in which the sample totaled 72 hypertensive patients. Data collection was carried out through interviews, at the Basic Health Unit Jose Leite Rolim Cajazeiras / PB, through a script of questions. The data obtained were analyzed quantitatively, in the light of the relevant literature. Results: The sample was characterized by a good percentage of hypertensive patients aged less than 40 years (34.71%), almost half of the sample has a permanent relationship (49.99%), a large percentage has the level of education for middle level and more (48.86%), the vast majority have an income of up to 2 minimum wages (83.32%). The vast majority (75%) are unaware of the real meaning of arterial hypertension, attributing concepts based on their values ​​and beliefs; a small minority (18%) discovered their illness on a routine visit; the most well-known treatment for them is medication and the reduction of the diet (100%) of the sample, with a frequency of (22.78%); as for the measures adopted, the least valued was the practice of physical activity (8.84%). (22.48%) reported that the main difficulty in following the treatment was adaptation to medication and the ease of acquiring medication through the health unit (48%). Many patients reported having no doubts about the treatment (45.26%). Final considerations: It was found that hypertensive patients are not sure what hypertension is, but they have good knowledge about their treatment, this is demonstrated by the few doubts that arose during the interviews. According to the findings, we perceive the need to seek educational measures that truly influence the behavior of hypertensive patients, in the sense of changes in habits and lifestyle. In addition to the creation of groups of hypertensive patients so that doubts and difficulties can be debated, and through the exchange of experience it is possible to awaken a better awareness about the disease.