ADHESION TO TREATMENT BY CHILDREN WITH CONGENITAL HYPOTHYROIDISM: KNOWLEDGE OF CAREGIVERS IN BAHIA STATE, BRAZIL.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate knowledge of caregivers of children with congenital hypothyroidism (CH), followed in a public reference service, as well as their associations with treatment adherence. METHODS: Exploratory, descriptive, cross-sectional study with convenience sample. Medical records of 158 patients diagnosed with congenital hypothyroidism were analyzed, and data were evaluated by applying a previously prepared questionnaire to caregivers from 2014 to 2016. Statistical analysis used the chi-square and the Spearman's correlation tests, being significant p-value ≤0.05. RESULTS: Females were predominant among caregivers (94.3%), with a mean age of 31 years, from inland cities (77.8%). There was a predominance of socioeconomic class C (59.5%) and incomplete primary education (35.7%). More than half of patients (53.2%) with CH had an adequate hormonal control. Approximately one third of caregivers had poor knowledge (37.3%) or was unaware (24.1%) about the meaning of congenital hypothyroidism. The low knowledge level of the disease was observed to be related to caregivers' educational level (p=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Lack of education of caregivers was a barrier to be faced when monitoring children with CH. This reality requires greater attention from health professionals to ensure that they use clear language when giving instructions to caregivers, and that caregivers have adequately understood the proposed recommendations.

Adhesion to treatment by children with congenital hypothyroidism: knowledge of caregivers in bahia state, brazil / Adesão ao tratamento de crianças com hipotireoidismo congênito: o conhecimento dos cuidadores no estado da bahia, brasil

ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate knowledge of caregivers of children with congenital hypothyroidism (CH), followed in a public reference service, as well as their associations with treatment adherence. Methods: Exploratory, descriptive, cross-sectional study with convenience sample. Medical records of 158 patients diagnosed with congenital hypothyroidism were analyzed, and data were evaluated by applying a previously prepared questionnaire to caregivers from 2014 to 2016. Statistical analysis used the chi-square and the Spearman's correlation tests, being significant p-value ≤0.05. Results: Females were predominant among caregivers (94.3%), with a mean age of 31 years, from inland cities (77.8%). There was a predominance of socioeconomic class C (59.5%) and incomplete primary education (35.7%). More than half of patients (53.2%) with CH had an adequate hormonal control. Approximately one third of caregivers had poor knowledge (37.3%) or was unaware (24.1%) about the meaning of congenital hypothyroidism. The low knowledge level of the disease was observed to be related to caregivers' educational level (p=0.004). Conclusions: Lack of education of caregivers was a barrier to be faced when monitoring children with CH. This reality requires greater attention from health professionals to ensure that they use clear language when giving instructions to caregivers, and that caregivers have adequately understood the proposed recommendations.

RESUMO Objetivo: Investigar o conhecimento dos cuidadores das crianças com hipotireoidismo congênito (HC) acompanhadas em um serviço público de referência, bem como as suas associações com a adesão ao tratamento. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo exploratório, descritivo, de corte transversal, com amostra de conveniência. Foram analisados os prontuários de 158 pacientes com diagnóstico de HC e avaliados os dados obtidos pela aplicação de um questionário previamente elaborado, destinado aos cuidadores, durante o período de 2014 a 2016. A análise estatística foi feita com o teste do qui-quadrado e a Correlação de Spearman, para correlacionar a pontuação do questionário, sendo significante o valor de p≤0,05. Resultados: Os cuidadores eram predominantemente do sexo feminino (94,3%), com média de idade de 31 anos, proveniente de cidades do interior (77,8%). Verificou-se predomínio da classe socioeconômica C (59,5%) e ensino fundamental incompleto (35,7%) na amostra dos cuidadores. Metade dos pacientes (53,2%) apresentava controle hormonal adequado. Aproximadamente 1/3 dos cuidadores demonstraram conhecimento ruim (37,3%) ou até mesmo desconheciam (24,1%) o HC. Observou-se que o baixo nível de conhecimento da doença estava diretamente relacionado com o nível educacional dos cuidadores (p=0,004). Conclusões: Os achados sugerem que a falta de instrução dos cuidadores é uma barreira a ser enfrentada durante o acompanhamento de crianças com HC, o que requer uma maior atenção do profissional de saúde, para garantir uma linguagem clara e um entendimento adequado das recomendações propostas.