HYPERTENSION AND ADHERENCE TO THE THERAPEUTIC REGÍMEN IN PRIMARY

Objective: empowering a person with high blood pressure for therapeutic adherence. Method: we conducted a descriptive study, cross-sectional with quantitative approach to diagnosis of the behaviors of adherence to therapeutic regimen in the Community of Comporta – Portugal. The sample was 61 hypertensive people, over 18 years old, who perform drug regimen, which also attend medical appointment of high blood pressure in health center and who agreed to participate by signing an informed consent. The questionnaire was the data collection instrument. Results: the studied population is as majority of female gender, married, low education, retired. The median is between 60-70 years old and most of them live with relatives. The dietary habits must change the level of fats and salt consumption. The analysis allows us to observe that medication adherence is high, but only 6 % of the participants practice physical exercise and half of these walks and does hydro gymnastics. The results support the need to design community projects promoting health, and also the behaviors and lifestyles seems very important in the adherence. Conclusion: Therapeutic adherence is a focus of attention of nurses, covering aspects ranging from the organization of nursing appointment and outline minimum nursing data to develop strategies to ensure treatment adherence. We drew up the project "Intervening to Prevent " with the purpose of enabling the person with high blood pressure for adherence to treatment regimen, with involvement in education and therapeutic physical exercise programs. Descriptors: adherence; treatment regimen; hypertension; short minimum nursing data; nursing