The prevalence and associated factors of nonadherence to antihypertensive medication in secondary healthcare.

PURPOSE: Non-adherence (NA) to medication is a major contributor to treatment failure in hypertensive patients. Factors of the ecological model, at family/healthcare professional, service, and system levels, are rarely evaluated as correlates of NA in hypertensive patients. METHODS: This crossectional study assessed the prevalence of and associated factors of NA to antihypertensive medication among 485 hypertensive patients upon receiving secondary healthcare. The Morisky Green Levine Scale (MGLS) measured the implementation phase of adherence, and the Short Assessment of Health Literacy for Portuguese-speaking Adults (SAHLPA) instrument, health literacy. Multivariate analysis to NA included variables according to the levels of the ecological model. RESULTS: Most patients were female (56.3%), white (53.2%), mean age of 62.0 ± 12.6 years, illiterate (61.6%), with low health literacy (70.9%), and low income (65.4%). Uncontrolled BP was frequent (75.2%); 57.1% of patients were nonadherent. In multivariate analysis based on the ecological model, adjusted for micro, meso- and macro-level correlates, NA was associated only with variables of patient-level: low health literacy (OR 1.62, CI 1.07-2.44, p = 0.020), income ≥ two reference wages (OR 0.46, CI 0.22-0.93, p = 0.031), lack of homeownership (OR 1.99, CI 1.13-3.51, p = 0.017), sedentarism (OR 1.78, CI 1.12-2.83, p = 0.014), and complexity of treatment (number of medications taken ≥ two times/day) (OR 1.56, CI 1.01-2.41, p = 0.042). CONCLUSION: In this group of severely hypertensive patients with high cardiovascular risk, only patient-related characteristics were associated with NA. Our findings highlight the need for effective actions to optimize clinical outcomes in similar healthcare programs.

Baixo letramento em saúde em pacientes idosos com pressão arterial não controlada em nível secundário de atenção à saúde / Low health literacy in older patients with uncontrolled blood pres-sure at secondary care

Introdução: O baixo letramento em saúde (BLS) é comum entre pacientes com doenças crônicas. Os estudos sobre a associação entre o BLS e a pressão arterial não controlada estão limitados aos níveis primário e terciário de atenção à saúde. Objetivo: Avaliamos a prevalência e a associação entre BLS e pressão arterial não controlada em pacientes hipertensos em um centro de atenção secundária à saúde no Brasil. Material e métodos: Nosso estudo teve delineamento transversal e incluiu 485 pacientes, no período de Agosto/2014 a Março/2016. Avaliamos letramento em saúde, pelo Short Assessment of Health Literacy for Portuguese-Speaking Adults (SAHLPA-18), e controle pressórico. Indivíduos com um escore ≤14 em SAHLPA-18 foram considerados com BLS, e indivíduos com pressão arterial ≥140/90 (ou ≥130/80 em pacientes diabéticos) foram considerados como tendo pressão arterial não controlada. Resultados:Um total de 56,0% eram mulheres, com média de idade de 62,0±12,6 anos. Os participantes analfabetos eram 61,6% e 65,4% recebiam até um salário mínimo. Tanto a pressão arterial não controlada quanto o BLS foram muito prevalentes (75,1% e 70,9%, respectivamente), entretanto não houve associação entre esses dois parâmetros. Na análise multivariada, a pressão arterial não controlada foi associada à idade (OR:0,96, IC:0,94-0,98, p<0,001), diabetes mellitus (OR:4,36, IC:2,54-7,51; p<0,001) e número de comprimidos (OR:1,16, Cl:1,08-1,25, p<0,001). Conclusão: Mesmo encontrando alta prevalência de BLS, a falta de associação entre BLS e pressão arterial não controlada pode ser devido às características demográficas da amostra, ou seja, idosos com baixa renda e baixa escolaridade. A avaliação do letramento em saúde fornece informações importantes que apoiam ações para melhorar o controle e o tratamento da hipertensão.

Background: Low health literacy (LHL) is common among patients with chronic diseases. Studies on the association between LHL and uncontrolled blood pressure are limited to primary and tertiary levels of healthcare. Objective:We evaluated the prevalence and association between LHL and uncontrolled blood pressure in hypertensive patients in a secondary healthcare in Brazil. Material and methods: Our study had a cross-sectional design and included 485 patients, between August/2014 to March/2016. We evaluated health literacy, by Short Assessment of Health Literacy for Portuguese-Speaking Adults (SAHLPA-18), and the blood pressure control. Individuals with a score ≤14 in SAHLPA-18 were considered as LHL, and individuals with blood pressure ≥140/90 (or ≥130/80 in diabetic patients) were considered as having uncontrolled blood pressure. Results: A total of 56.0% female, with mean age 62.0±12.6 years. Illiterate participants were 61.6%, and 65.4% earned up to one reference wage. Both uncontrolled blood pressure and LHL were highly prevalent (75.1% and 70.9%, respectively), but there was no association between these two parameters. In multivariate analysis, uncontrolled blood pressure was associated with age (OR:0.96, CI:0.94-0.98, p<0.001), diabetes mellitus (OR:4.36, CI:2.54-7.51; p<0.001) and number of pills (OR:1.16, CI:1.08-1.25, p<0.001). Conclusion: Even we found a high prevalence of LHL, the lack of association between LHL and uncontrolled blood pressure may be due to demographic characteristics of the sample, i.e., elderly people with low income and low schooling. HL assessment provides important information that supports actions to improve hypertension control and treatment.

Awareness about falls and elderly people's exposure to household risk factors. / Percepção sobre queda e exposição de idosos a fatores de risco domiciliares.

OBJECTIVES: to describe the awareness about falls among elderly people living in their households in communities, to measure the other risks that they are exposed to in their homes and to evaluate the influence that knowledge on falling brings in the adoption of preventative measures. METHOD: The FRAQ-Brazil questionnaire was used on 473 elderly people as well as a questionnaire on elderly people being exposed to 20 household risk factors. Associations between the variables were analyzed using the chi-squared test with a confidence interval of 95%. RESULTS: The age range was between 60 and 95 years with the average being 70.6 years. The majority of those interviewed were female (58.4%) who were earning 2 minimum wages (46.3%). The average amount of correct answers given with the use of the FRAQ-Brazil questionnaire was 19.5 out of 32 points and the elderly participants were, on average, exposed to 7.8 household risk factors. 180 of them stated that they had already received information on falls. CONCLUSION: The majority of the elderly population displayed little knowledge on falls and were exposed to a variety of daily risk factors. Individuals who were more advanced in years and who had more knowledge on falls, were exposed to less household risk factors. This may well have been due to the adoption of preventative measures through changing domestic environment.

Percepção sobre queda e exposição de idosos a fatores de risco domiciliares / Awareness about falls and elderly people's exposure to household risk factors

Resumo O objetivo deste artigo é descrever a percepção sobre quedas dos idosos residentes na comunidade; mensurar a exposição desses indivíduos a fatores de risco domiciliares relacionados; e avaliar a influência do conhecimento sobre queda na adoção de medidas preventivas. O questionário FRAQ-Brasil foi aplicado a 473 idosos, juntamente com um questionário sobre exposição a 20 fatores de risco domiciliares. Associações entre as variáveis foram analisadas utilizando o teste qui-quadrado com intervalo de confiança de 95%. A idade variou de 60 a 95 anos, com média de 70,6 anos; os entrevistados foram principalmente do sexo feminino (58,4%), e renda de 2 salários mínimos (46,3%); a média de acertos no questionário FRAQ-Brasil foi de 19,5 em até 32 pontos e os idosos entrevistados estavam expostos, em média, a 7,8 fatores de risco domiciliares; 180 idosos disseram já terem recebido informações sobre queda. A maioria da população idosa apresenta pouco conhecimento sobre queda. Indivíduos com idade mais avançada e com maior conhecimento sobre queda estão expostos a menos fatores de risco domiciliares, possivelmente pela maior adoção de medidas preventivas através da modificação do ambiente doméstico.

Abstract Objectives: to describe the awareness about falls among elderly people living in their households in communities, to measure the other risks that they are exposed to in their homes and to evaluate the influence that knowledge on falling brings in the adoption of preventative measures. Method: The FRAQ-Brazil questionnaire was used on 473 elderly people as well as a questionnaire on elderly people being exposed to 20 household risk factors. Associations between the variables were analyzed using the chi-squared test with a confidence interval of 95%. Results: The age range was between 60 and 95 years with the average being 70.6 years. The majority of those interviewed were female (58.4%) who were earning 2 minimum wages (46.3%). The average amount of correct answers given with the use of the FRAQ-Brazil questionnaire was 19.5 out of 32 points and the elderly participants were, on average, exposed to 7.8 household risk factors. 180 of them stated that they had already received information on falls. Conclusion: The majority of the elderly population displayed little knowledge on falls and were exposed to a variety of daily risk factors. Individuals who were more advanced in years and who had more knowledge on falls, were exposed to less household risk factors. This may well have been due to the adoption of preventative measures through changing domestic environment.

Percepção sobre queda como fator determinante desse evento entre idosos residentes na comunidade / Fall awareness as a determining factor of this event among elderly community residents

Objetivos: Identificar a prevalência de quedas domiciliares em uma amostra de idosos e avaliar os fatores determinantes para esse desfecho, incluindo os riscos intrínsecos e extrínsecos, bem como a percepção sobre quedas, mensurada por meio do questionário Falls Risk Awareness Questionnaire (FRAQ-Brasil). Métodos: Estudo transversal, descritivo e quantitativo, realizado com 472 idosos por meio de entrevista. Os dados foram analisados segundo teste do qui-quadrado, com intervalo de confiança de 95%. Resultados: A média de idade foi 70,6 anos, sendo a maior parcela do sexo feminino. Episódios de queda foram relatados por 55,2% dos entrevistados; a maioria tinha diagnóstico autorreferido de doenças que dificultavam a deambulação e fazia uso de medicamentos que favorecem quedas. Observou-se menor ocorrência de quedas entre os indivíduos com maior percepção sobre seus fatores de risco. Conclusão: O estudo identificou elevada prevalência de quedas e exposição dos idosos a vários fatores de risco independentes e concomitantes. Maior nível de percepção sobre quedas parece ser um importante fator de prevenção, apresentando maior associação com a prevalência de quedas do que renda e escolaridade.

Objectives: To identify the prevalence of accidental falls among elderly persons in their homes, and to evaluate determining factors to that, including intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors, as well as the awareness about falls, assessed by the Falls Risk Awareness Questionnaire (FRAQ-Brazil). Method: It consisted of a quantitative, transversal, and descriptive study, performed with 472 elderly persons through interview. Data were analyzed by the chi-squared test with a confidence interval of 95%. Results: The average age of the sample was 70.6 years and most of them were female. Among the sample, 55.2% referred previous episodes of fall. The majority of them self-reported having diseases associated with gait disturbance and used medicines that could cause falls. It was observed less falls among elderly with higher level of awareness about risk factors. Conclusion: A high prevalence of accidental falls and exposure of the elderly persons to several independent and concomitant risk factors were observed. Greater awareness level about falls seems to be a preventive factor, presenting a higher association with falls than level of education and income.

Self-efficacy beliefs, locus of control, religiosity and non-adherence to immunosuppressive medications in kidney transplant patients.

AIM: Adherence to immunosuppressive medication is essential for favourable kidney transplant outcomes. The present study aims to investigate how self-efficacy beliefs, health locus of control and religiosity are associated with adherence to immunosuppressives in post kidney transplant recipients. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study with 88 recipients with more than 1 year after transplantation. Three methods were used to classify patients as adherent or non-adherent: Basel Assessment of Adherence Scale for Immunosuppressives - BAASIS, the collateral report and blood levels of immunosuppressive medications. Self-efficacy, health locus of control, and religiosity were evaluated applying General Perceived Self-Efficacy Scale, Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale and Duke University Religion Index, respectively. Non-adherence was modelled by uni- and multivariated analysis. RESULTS: Sixty-three percent of the patients were male, age 47.2 ± 12.9 years, and median post-transplant time 108.71 (49.0-266.0) months. We found 70.5% of patients were non-adherent through at least one method. Adherent patients presented higher self-efficacy scores (45.1 ± 4.9 vs 38.3 ± 8.6; P < 0.001) and higher intrinsic religiosity (14.0 ± 1.6 vs. 12.8 ± 2.5; P = 0.016) compared to the non-adherents. Organizational and non-organizational religiosity did not differ between these groups. By logistic regression, non-adherence was associated with lower self-efficacy (OR 0.81, IC 0.70-0.92, P = 0.002), chance locus of control (OR 1.23, IC 1.04-1.45, P = 0.016) and lower intrinsic religiosity (OR 0.56, IC 0.38-0.84, P = 0.006). CONCLUSION: Our study showed that self-efficacy, chance locus of control, and intrinsic religiosity were associated with non-adherence to immunosuppressives. A broader perception of the kidney transplant patient´s integrality can help health professionals to design strategies to promote adherence in this population.