Influência do sentimento de impotência na adesão ao tratamento anti-hipertensivo

Abstract

This research aimed to analyze the influence of the feeling of impotence on adherence to antihypertensive treatment. Descriptive cross-sectional study carried out at the Integrated Center for Diabetes and Hypertension in Fortaleza, during the months of October and November 2017. Measures included an instrument with sociodemographic, clinical and antihypertensive treatment variables; the Questionnaire on Adherence to Treatment of Systemic Hypertension and the Instrument of Measure of the Feeling of Impotence. For association analysis Chi-square and likelihood ratio were performed. A sample of 300 patients were recruited. A large proportion (4.7%) of the participants neglected medication intake at the established time, at least once a month; and have reduced salt, fat and sweets and sugary drink consumption by half. Only 7.3% have never neglected medication intake to hypertension, consume practically no salt and routinely followed non-pharmacological treatment. The items of the Measure of the Feeling of Impotence Instrument “ever presents feeling of impotence” and “rarely presents feeling of impotence” were frequently cited, 45 and 41.6%, respectively. The variables “neglected medication intake at some point”(p=0.040), “take medication for the treatment of systemic hypertension only when had symptoms”(p=0.041); “when started the treatment reduced the salt intake in diet”(p=0.042), “have started to prefer consuming white meats”(p=0.023); “to follow the non-pharmacological treatment to systemic hypertension became a routine in your life”(p=0.002); and “number of doctor appointments to control hypertension in the last year”(p=0.047) were associated with the feeling of impotence. However, there was no significante association between feeling of impotence and level of adherence obtained in the Questionnaire on Adherence to Treatment of Systemic Hypertension. In conclusion, analysis of feeling of impotence should be measured in other groups and contexts given their importance in self management practices.