Tecnologia de cuidado na busca da adesão ao tratamento da hipertensão arterial: desenvolvimento e avaliação de uma experiência em Fortaleza - Ceará

Abstract

The high blood pressure has been a subject ofstudy that shows a high incident and difficulties in adopting a procedure to treatment. This study aims to implement and evaluate a technological care for the patient against the difficulties earlier mentioned. It is based on King’s theory in favoured to individual participation, interpersonal relationships, family care, respecting personal choices, all together improving the treatment. The technological care requires a systemic nursing to include social and personal relationship during the high blood pressure treatment. The assistance convergent research was developed from May of 2001 to May of 2002 in a family basic health care unit in Fortaleza-Ceará, with 22 patients with therapeutic treatment difficulty followed by one family member. We assisted the patient’s treatment through nursing appointments, group meetings, home visits, participant observation and a data collection procedure, which was used to evaluate them. Data analysis described the health unity settings, the meeting with the local health team and the implementation of the technology of care for the patient. The majority ofthis group has the following social-demographic characteristics; they are at the age between 58 and 64 years, 15 females, 8 literacy persons, 14 married, 9 with a minimum wage and 13 are retired. We described the care for each patient from the following nursing diagnosis: Ineffective control of therapeutic care at individual, family and community levei, tension as a caretaker, and interrupted family process. Finally we showed the reached target comparing the initial and final results. The implementation of this technology improved the patients’ behaviour related to adequate use of salt and fat, quitting smoking and alcohol, following the correct procedures of the medicine prescription and higher frequency to appointments. Also there is an increase of physical exercises and this way they are better able to cope with stressful situations. Eleven patients reduced their corporal mass index and blood pressure, while six patients reduced their waist measure and glycaemia test (blood sugar). This technology of care also proved its efficacy, by means of patient’s speech during the process. We conclude affirming that this technology works, effecting the care ofthe patient, the health team’s participation in this study and to change the practice and knowledge ofthe researcher.