Withdrawal from mental and psychosocial care during pregnancy.

Psychopathology, psychosocial problems and substance use (PPS) commonly occur in pregnant women, and can have a negative impact on the course of pregnancy and the healthy development of the child. As PPS often remains undetected and untreated during pregnancy, we developed and implemented a four-step screen-and-treat protocol in routine obstetric care, with: (i) screening including triage and subsequent confirmation, (ii) indication assessment, (iii) transfer towards care and (iv) utilization of care. Adherence to the protocol and risk factors associated with dropout were examined for 236 Dutch pregnant women in a deprived urban area. Seventy-nine percent of women accepted the screening, 21% dropped out during triage, 15% during confirmation, 3% during transfer and 8% thereafter. Provided reasons for dropout were lack of time and lack of perceived benefit. In particular, smokers, multiparous women, and women of non-Western ethnicity dropout on the way towards mental and psychosocial care. For a successful implementation of the protocol in the future, with improved adherence of pregnant women to the protocol, education of women on PPS risks, motivational skills and compulsory treatment are worth investigation.

Diagnóstico educativo sobre adherencia al tratamiento antirretroviral en médicos y enfermeras de la atención primaria de salud / Educative diagnosis on adherence to antiretroviral treatment in doctors and nurses in primary health care

Introducción: la deficiente adherencia a los tratamientos antirretrovirales, se ha convertido en un problema de salud de gran importancia, por lo que es necesario promover una correcta relación terapéutica, entre el profesional de la salud, y la persona con VIH/sida. Objetivos: identificar el nivel de conocimientos relacionados con la adherencia al tratamiento antirretroviral, las principales prácticas profesionales que se realizan, y la percepción de capacitación que tienen los médicos y enfermeras del municipio Camagüey, en el periodo de septiembre de 2006 a junio de 2007. Métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo de corte transversal, la población estuvo constituida por 150 enfermeras y 90 médicos. La muestra quedó conformada por 100 enfermeras y 65 médicos de la atención primaria de salud, que atendían en los consultorios, a las personas con VIH/sida. Resultados: los médicos y las enfermeras muestran escasos conocimientos en algunos elementos esenciales, relacionados con la adherencia a los tratamientos de larga duración, y la repercusión que tienen en la calidad de vida de las personas con VIH/sida. Existen dificultades en algunas prácticas profesionales, llevadas a cabo con los pacientes. Hubo insuficiente percepción de capacitación relacionada con el tema, para promover la adherencia en los pacientes. Conclusiones: los conocimientos que poseen los médicos y enfermeras de la familia, son insuficientes para abordar con calidad, la atención a las personas con VIH/sida, que se acogen al sistema de atención ambulatorio

Introduction: poor adherence to antiretroviral treatment has become an important health issue, so it is necessary to promote proper therapeutic relationship between health professional and the persons with HIV/AIDS. Objectives: to identify the level of knowledge related to the antiretroviral therapy adherence, the major professional practices performed and the training perception of doctors and nurses from Camag³ey municipality during september 2006 to june 2007. Methods: a cross sectional study was conducted, out of 150 nurses and 90 doctors, a sample was made up by 100 nurses and 65 doctors from primary care, assisting HIV/AIDS patients. Results: physicians and nurses showed little knowledge of essential elements relating to adherence to long-term treatment and the impact it has on the quality of life of HIV/AIDS people. There are difficulties in some professional practices, performed on patients. There was insufficient awareness training related to the topic, to promote adherence in these patients. Conclusions: the knowledge of primary care doctors and nurses are insufficient to deal with quality care for HIV/AIDS people, benefiting from the outpatient care system

Adherencia terapéutica en pacientes con hipertensión arterial del Policlínico Universitario Manuel Fajardo en el Municipio Cruces, Cienfuegos, 2009 / Therapeutical support in patients presenting with high blood pressure from the \"Manuel Fajardo\" University Polyclinic in the Cruces municipality, Cienfuegos, 2009

Introducción: La adherencia terapéutica en pacientes hipertensos se ha convertido en un problema de gran importancia a nivel mundial. Objetivos: Describir los niveles de adherencia e identificar los factores que influyen en esta. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo de corte transversal, en hipertensos del área de salud Cruces, a la que pertenece el Policlínico Universitario Manuel Piti Fajardo del municipio Cruces, en la provincia de Cienfuegos, en el año 2009. La muestra quedó conformada por 351 pacientes. La información se obtuvo con la aplicación del cuestionario MBG (Martín, Bayarre y Grau) y un cuestionario para estudiar los factores que influyen en la adherencia. Ambas técnicas fueron procesadas con procedimientos estadísticos. Resultados: En el estudio existió un predominio de pacientes adheridos y la presencia de factores de diferente naturaleza que se relacionan con la adherencia tales como: características de la enfermedad y el tratamiento, factores socioeconómicos y demográficos, características del paciente y del equipo o sistema de asistencia sanitaria. Conclusiones: Se evidenciaron tres niveles de adherencia terapéutica: total, parcial y no adheridos. Predominaron los adheridos totales en relación con los demás

Introduction: The therapeutical support in hypertensive patients becomes a very important problem at worldwide. Objectives: To describe the support levels and to identify the factors influencing on it. Methods: A cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted in hypertensive patients from the Manuel Piti Fajardo University Polyclinic of the Cruces municipality in Cienfuegos province, 2009. Sample included 351 patients. Information was collected using the MGB questionnaire (Martín, Bayarre y Grau) and another one to study the factors influencing in support. Both techniques were processed using statistical procedures. Results: In study there was predominance of patients supported and also the presence of different factors related to support including: treatment and diseases features, socioeconomic and demographic factors, patient and staff features or health assistance system. Conclusions: There were demonstrated three levels of therapeutical support: total, partial and no-supported, with predominance of total supported regarding other patients

Estrategia de intervención en mujeres con citologías alteradas negadas al seguimiento / Intervention strategies in women with altered cytological tests refusing to follow-up

Se realizó un estudio de intervención con un pretest y un postest con el objetivo de determinar el efecto de la intervención educativa en las pacientes con citología alterada, negadas al seguimiento en consulta de patología de cuello pertenecientes al policlínico docente Octavio de la Concepción y la Pedraja del municipio de Camajuaní en el periodo comprendido del 1ro de enero al 31 de diciembre de 2009, que contribuya a su inserción en el programa de Atención Precoz del Cáncer Cérvicouterino. Igualmente caracterizar la muestra según variables epidemiológicas de interés para el estudio, evaluar las causas que influyen en la negativa de estas pacientes a realizarse el seguimiento y comprobar la utilidad de la intervención educativa en la reinserción de las pacientes de la muestra en el programa. De un universo de 33 mujeres, previo consentimiento informado, se tomó una muestra de 21 pacientes que viven en zona urbana. Entre los resultados principales se encontró que predominaron como inasistentes las pacientes de escolaridad secundaria y el grupo de edad más afectado fue el de 35-39 años. Las causas fundamentales de inasistencia fueron la despreocupación y el temor. Se concluye señalando que la intervención educativa fue efectiva pues se elevó el nivel de conocimientos de las pacientes y se reincorporaron al programa la mayoría de ellas

A pre-test and post-test intervention study was conducted to determine the effect of educational intervention in patients with altered cytology who refused follow-up in cervix pathology consultation from the Octavio de la Concepción y de la Pedraja teaching polyclinic of Camajuaní municipality from January 1 to December 31, 2009 contributing to its insertion in the Early Care Program of Cervicouterine Cancer and to characterize the sample according to the interesting epidemiological variables for study, to assess the causes influencing in the negative of this patients to carry out the follow-up and to verify the usefulness of the educational intervention in the patient's reinsertion in the program. From a universe of 33 women and the previous informed consent, a sample of 21 patient residents in the urban area was taken. Among the main results obtained it was found that those qualified like absents those patients with a secondary school level and the age group more affected was that of 35-39 years. The major causes of absence were the unconcern and the fair. We conclude indicating that educational intervention was effective since the patient's knowledge level rose with a significant reincorporation of patients to the program.

Video-tape role induction for psychotherapy: moving forward.

Role induction (RI) has been shown to decrease premature termination and to enhance the therapeutic alliance and symptom relief. We examine the effects of a video-tape RI on premature termination rates, outcome, and the process variable of therapeutic alliance. Sixty-eight clients and their therapists (N = 26) participated in the study. Each client completed baseline measures of symptom status before beginning the therapy. Clients were then randomly assigned to either a video-tape RI condition or a no videotape treatment-as-usual condition. After the first session of therapy, clients and therapists separately completed outcome and alliance measures. Providing a video-tape RI to clients as they entered therapy did not lead to better results in attendance, outcome, or process variables. Considering possibilities that lie beyond the design of this study, so as to understand these results, is encouraged in an effort to advance the field's thinking about RI and how it can best be harnessed for continued positive effects moving forward.

Patient adherence to oral anticancer drugs: an emerging issue in modern oncology.

The steady increase in the use of oral anticancer drugs in modern oncology has created a paradigm shift, challenging traditional attitudes towards cancer care and requiring new concepts of organization of oncology services. Important issues are the prolonged treatment period, management of toxicity, treatment adherence, reimbursement conditions and patient and family education. Although most patients generally prefer oral therapy over intravenous treatment for reasons of convenience, the daily use of oral anticancer drugs can be a challenging commitment for many patients. Reports on adherence and persistence among patients with cancer show that adherence ranges from 16% to 100%, depending on the type of therapy and the measurement/definition of adherence. Apart from demographic, disease and therapy related factors, the determinants that mostly influence (non-)adherence are the satisfaction with care activities performed at the initiation of the drug treatment, and the perceived necessity of treatment. Therefore, patient education addressing these issues is considered the cornerstone of successful oral anticancer treatment. Studies examining the role of different health care providers in the pharmacotherapeutic care of patients with cancer, treated with oral anti-cancer drugs, support the need for a multidisciplinary approach to achieve a maximum benefit for the individual patient and consequently for the whole health system. Limiting adverse events and developing appropriate supportive care are only some aspects that need to be considered in this.

Representações sociais de mulheres portadoras de hipertensão arterial sobre sua enfermidade: desatando os nós da lacuna da adesão ao tratamento na agenda da Saúde da Família / Social representation of women with hypertension in relation to the disease: unraveling the adherence to the treatment in relation to the schedule of the Family Health

A falta de adesão ao tratamento e a consequente falta de controle da hipertensão arterial (HA) representam um grande desafio à Atenção Primária no Brasil. Compreender a relação subjetiva dos portadores de HA com a enfermidade pode ampliar as possibilidades de medidas de controle da HA mais efetivas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi conhecer e analisar as representações sociais de mulheres portadoras de HA sobre a doença e seu convívio familiar. Fizeram parte do estudo 26 mulheres diagnosticadas com HA e cadastradas em uma Unidade de Atenção Primária à Saúde do município de Porto Firme, MG. O estudo fundamentou-se na pesquisa qualitativa e elegeu as representações sociais como princípio teórico-metodológico. Os dados, obtidos por meio de grupos focais, entrevistas individuais e anotações em diário de campo, foram examinados através da análise de conteúdo. Nas análises emergiram os atrativos semânticos que retratavam as representações das mulheres sobre HA - efeitos psicológicos/sentimentos ligados ao diagnóstico da HA; o cotidiano do portador de HA e as mudanças em seu dia a dia;e o convívio familiar com HA - por meio das quais se identificaram diferentes dimensões e espaços ligados à adesão, no âmbito individual e coletivo, destacando-se o acesso à informação associado ao suporte social como fator favorável à adesão ao tratamento.

The lack of compliance with treatment and the consequent lack of control of hypertension represent a major challenge to primary care in Brazil. Understanding the subjective relationship of patients with hypertension can expand the possibilities of more effective control measures. The aim was to understand and analyze the social representations of women with hypertension about the disease and their family environment. Study participants were 26 women diagnosed with hypertension and registered in a Unit of Primary Health Care in the city of Porto Firme, Brazil. The study was based on qualitative research and elected social representations as theoretical and methodological principle. The data, collected through focus groups, interviews and notes in a diary, were examined through content analysis. In the analysis emerged semantic attractions depicting the representations of women on hypertension - psychological effects and feelings related to the diagnosis of hypertension; daily life of patients with hypertension and changes in their daily lives; and family life with hypertension - through which have identified different dimensions and spaces connected to membership, both individually and collectively, emphasizing access to information associated with social support as a factor in favor of compliance with the treatment.

Coverage of and barriers to routine child vaccination in Mukalla district, Hadramout governorate, Yemen.

To determine the vaccination coverage for children 12-23 months and to identify reasons for nonvaccination, we conducted a community-based survey in Al Mukalla district. Information about vaccination status and related barriers was collected for 210 children: 82% were fully vaccinated, 12% were partially vaccinated, and 5% were not vaccinated. Drop-out rate between DPTI and DPT3 was 3.1%. Combining the evidence of vaccine cards and parent's history, the coverage for OPV1 was 94.3%, OPV3 91.4%, measles 90%, and BCG 88.1%. Reasons for not vaccinating included lack of information (54%) and existence of obstacles (35%). There is a need to raise the awareness of families about vaccination and to expand continuous outreach sessions to cover all children.

[Development and evaluation of an information leaflet for patients consulting an university hospital dental clinic]. / Elaboration et évaluation d'une plaquette d'information destinée aux patients consultant un service hospitalo-universitaire d'odontologie. Information en odontologie hospitalière.

BACKGROUND: Dental clinics in university hospitals have several roles; dental care is delivered to patients while dental students learn clinical practice. Patients are subjected thus to specific constraints in those mixed hospital-university structures. Patients should be informed of how these structures work and their consent must be carefully sought. Otherwise, patients could manifest their refusal to receive care by interrupting the treatment process. METHODS: This study was aimed to develop an information leaflet about the organisation of the dental clinic of the university hospital of Clermont-Ferrand. A quasi-randomised controlled study was conducted to evaluate the impact of this leaflet on patients' knowledge and absenteeism. The types of information to be included in the leaflet were determined using focus groups with patients, students and practitioners. The design, appropriateness and clarity of the leaflet were pilot tested among 30 patients. The evaluation of the impact of the leaflet was conducted among new patients who visited the dental clinic in 2007-2008. Patients were randomly allocated to three groups; one group (G1) received the leaflet at home by mail before the first visit, one group (G2) benefited from the leaflet during the first visit and one group (G3) did not receive the leaflet. The number of patients present at their appointment was recorded during the first visit (G1, G2, G3) and the second one (G2, G3). The knowledge of the patients about the dental clinic was evaluated by using a self-administered questionnaire before (except G1) and after reading the leaflet. RESULTS: The study population included 269 patients; 94 answered the two successive questionnaires (G1=32, G2=30, G3=31). At baseline, patients did not have sufficient knowledge about the way the dental clinic was functioning. The leaflet partly improved the level of knowledge of the patients when it was given during the first visit. About 25 % of the patients were not present at their appointment and this rate was not influenced by the distribution of the leaflet. CONCLUSION: The distribution of a leaflet, explaining the organisation of a university dental clinic, slightly improves the knowledge of new patients about this kind of care structure.

Policy and practice, lost in transition: Reasons for high drop-out from pre-antiretroviral care in a resource-poor setting of eastern Uganda.

OBJECTIVE: This study explores reasons for drop-out from pre-ARV care in a resource-poor setting where premature death is a common consequence of delayed ARV initiation. METHODS: In Iganga, Uganda, we conducted key informant interviews with staff at the pre-ARV clinic, focus group discussions with persons who looked after people living with HIV (PLWH) and in-depth interviews with PLWH half of whom had dropped out of pre-ARV care. Content data analysis was done to identify recurrent themes. RESULTS: Reasons cited for dropping out of pre-ARV care include: inadequate post-test counseling due to staff work overload, competition from the holistic and less stigmatizing traditional/spiritual healers. Others were transportation costs, long waiting time lack of incentives to seek pre-ARV care by healthy looking PLWH and gender inequalities. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-ARV adherence counseling should be improved through recruitment of counselors or multi-skilling in counseling skills for the available staff to reduce on the work load. Traditional/ spiritual healers should be integrated and supervised to offer pre-ARV care. Door step supply of cotrimoxazole using agents could reduce transport costs, waiting time and increase access to pre-ARV. Women should be sensitized on comprehensive HIV care through the local media and local leaders to address gender inequalities.

Trend and inequality in immunization dropout among young children in Cambodia.

This paper studies the trend of immunization dropout and its relationship with economic inequality among Cambodian children aged 12-59 months, using data from the 2000 and 2005 Cambodia Demographic and Health Surveys (CDHS). We define an 'immunization dropout' as a child who has received at least one dose of trivalent vaccine against diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus (DPT), but failed to receive his or her third dose to complete the schedule before 12 months of age. Socioeconomic status is represented by household wealth index quintiles. The level of DPT dropouts from 1996 to 2004 decreased from 22% to 10%. The difference in DPT3 dropouts between children of the highest household wealth quintile and children of the lowest and lower wealth quintiles significantly improved over these years. In 2000, the children of the lowest wealth quintile were almost three times as likely as the children of the highest wealth quintile not to complete the third dose of DPT (Odds Ratios [OR] = 2.92, P = 0.001). In 2005, however, the difference was small and statistically insignificant (OR = 1.42, P = 0.290). These results demonstrated that the child immunization program in Cambodia improved significantly over the past years. The improvement was observed in children of all economic strata, especially among the children of the poorer households.

Smoking cessation intervention for female prisoners: addressing an urgent public health need.

OBJECTIVES: We tested the efficacy of a combined pharmacologic and behavioral smoking cessation intervention among women in a state prison in the southern United States. METHODS: The study design was a randomized controlled trial with a 6-month waitlist control group. The intervention was a 10-week group intervention combined with nicotine replacement therapy. Two hundred and fifty participants received the intervention, and 289 were in the control group. Assessments occurred at baseline; end of treatment; 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment; and at weekly sessions for participants in the intervention group. RESULTS: The intervention was efficacious compared with the waitlist control group. Point prevalence quit rates for the intervention group were 18% at end of treatment, 17% at 3-month follow-up, 14% at 6-month follow-up, and 12% at 12-month follow-up, quit rates that are consistent with outcomes from community smoking-cessation interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Female prisoners are interested in smoking cessation interventions and achieved point-prevalence quit rates similar to community samples. Augmenting tobacco control policies in prison with smoking cessation interventions has the potential to address a significant public health need.

An assessment of the impact of informative dropout and nonresponse in measuring health-related quality of life using the EuroQol (EQ-5D) descriptive system.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the impact of imputing EQ-5D values to allow for informative dropout and nonresponse in a longitudinal assessment of the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of liver transplant recipients. METHODS: The EQ-5D was administered at defined time intervals pre- and post-transplantation to all adults who were listed to receive liver transplants as National Health Service (NHS) treatment at each of the six Department of Health designated centers in England and Wales over a time-period of 36 months (12 month recruitment period and 24 month follow-up period). During the course of the study missing data arose for two main reasons, informative dropout and nonresponse. Informative dropout was accounted for by giving those patients who died an EQ-5D score of 0 and those patients who were too ill to respond to an EQ-5D score equivalent to the 5th percentile of respondents for each time point pretransplantation. Nonresponse was accounted for using relatively naive approaches (last value carried forward, and upper/lower 95% confidence interval around the mean) and contrasted with a more sophisticated multiple imputation method. RESULTS: Adjusting for informative dropout in isolation resulted in a marked deterioration in mean scores over time pretransplant relative to the base case situation in which no such adjustments were made. Nevertheless, adjusting for informative dropout and/or nonresponders did not alter the base case conclusion of no statistically significant differences in mean EQ-5D scores over time pretransplant. In contrast, post-transplant data indicated highly statistically significant improvements in quality of life over time for the base case (P < 0.001) whereas no statistically significant improvements over time were found when informative dropout was allowed for in isolation (P = 0.402) or when informative dropout and nonresponse were allowed for simultaneously (P = 0.105-0.185). CONCLUSIONS: It is important that future studies which purport to assess the HRQL over time of patients, such as these with end-stage liver disease, include an allowance for informative dropout and nonresponse within the analysis.

Minimizing attrition in a long-term clinical trial of pediatric asthma.

BACKGROUND: Despite increased attention focused on the need to prevent patient attrition in long-term clinical trials, high dropout rates have threatened the success of numerous studies. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the disease, demographic, and psychological factors associated with missed visits and study dropout to help improve patient management in long-term clinical trials. METHODS: Predictors of attrition were examined within the Childhood Asthma Management Program (CAMP), a large, multicenter clinical trial that followed up 1,041 children with asthma for 4 to 6 years. RESULTS: Eighty-two percent of patients attended all study visits. The tendency to miss visits was increased among older children with milder asthma, lower intellectual and social competence, and more symptoms of behavioral problems and emotional distress. Forty-two patients who missed 3 or more visits in a row and did not attend the final visit were considered study dropouts; these patients at baseline had milder asthma; lower cognitive, academic, and social competence skills; and more family conflict and distress than found among participants who remained in the study. The 49 children who had erratic attendance but did not drop out also had lower intellectual and academic skills and less family social support. CONCLUSIONS: The 4% dropout rate in CAMP was lower than reported in any previous long-term asthma trial. The findings of milder disease, decreased psychological resources, and increased distress in problem-attendance patients can assist in identifying patients who are at risk for missed visits or dropout during the trial either to block their entry into the trial or to focus efforts at maintaining their attendance once enrolled in the trial.

Effect of a bicultural community health worker on completion of diabetes education in a Hispanic population.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of a bicultural community health worker (CHW) on completion of diabetes education in an inner-city Hispanic patient population and to evaluate the impact of completion of the education program on patient knowledge, self-care behaviors, and glycemic control. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Patients were randomized into CHW intervention and non-CHW intervention groups. All patients received individualized, comprehensive diabetes education from a certified diabetes nurse educator after baseline demographic information, diabetes knowledge, diabetes self-care practices, and glycohemoglobin levels were assessed. Rates of education program completion were determined. Diabetes knowledge, self-care practices, and glycohemoglobin levels were reassessed at program completion and at a later postprogram follow-up medical appointment and compared to baseline. Logistic regression analysis and the Mantel-Haenszel chi 2 statistic were used to determine the effect of the CHW assignment on program completion. Analyses of covariance were performed with end-of-treatment behavior scores, knowledge scores, and glycohemoglobin levels as outcome variables, controlling for baseline values and testing for the effect of CHW assignment. RESULTS: Of 64 patients enrolled in the study, 40 (63%) completed and 24 (37%) dropped out before completing the diabetes education program. Of the patients having CHW intervention, 80% completed the education program, compared with 47% of patients without CHW intervention (P = 0.01). "Dropouts" were younger (age 47.5 +/- 12.5 years [mean +/- SD]) compared with patients who completed the program (55.9 +/- 9.9 years) (P = 0.004). Dropout status showed no significant relationship to educational level achieved or literacy level. For the program "completers," knowledge levels and selected self-care practices significantly improved, and glycohemoglobin levels improved from a baseline level of 11.7% to 9.9% at program completion (P = 0.004) and 9.5% at the postprogram follow-up (P < 0.001). The effect of the CHW assignment on program completion, controlling for financial status and language spoken, was extremely robust (P = 0.007). The effect of the CHW on knowledge, self-care behavior, or glycohemoglobin outcome variables was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that intervention with a bicultural CHW improved rates of completion of a diabetes education program in an inner-city Hispanic patient population irrespective of literacy or educational levels attained. Our data further suggests that completion of individualized diabetes educational strategies leads to improved patient knowledge, self-care behaviors, and glycemic control.

Evaluación del programa de psicoeducación para familiares de pacientes esquizofrénicos: una intervención complementaria al tratamiento psicofarmacológico y psicoterapéutico / Evaluation of a psychoeducational programme for family members of schyzophrenic patients: an complementary intervention to the psychofarmacological and psychotherapeutic treatment

El Servicio de Psiquiatría de Valdivia ofrece desde 1989 Cursos de Psicoeducación para familiares de pacientes en control. Se someten a evaluación 4 de 6 cursos ofrecidos, a los asistieron familiares ligados a 55 pacientes, destacándose la participación mayoritaria de las madres (53,3 por ciento ). Un 57,3 por ciento de las personas mostraron cumplimiento de asistencia satisfactorio a óptimo. La adhesividad al tratamiento farmacológico de los pacientes 6 meses antes y 6 meses posteriores a la participación a algunos de los cursos muestra modificaciones posistivas, disminuyendo las inasistencias y atrasos. Un 70,3 por ciento de los familiares señaló que esto les ha ayudado mucho, que luego de su participación comprenden más los problemas ocasionados por la enfermedad. Un 92,5 por ciento afirmó que les resultó útil escuchar los comentarios de otros familiares afectados por la misma problemática. La experiencia desarrollada muestra que el tipo de actividad complementaria promueve en los familiares una forma diferente de comprensión de la patología, brindando la oportunidad de ventilar prejuicios, preocupaciones y experiencias de tal forma que logran algún grado de control sobre la situación, valoran la importancia de la adhesividad al tratamiento farmacológico, se minimiza la frustación y se flexibiliza laatmósfera familiar