Adherence to drug treatment in hypertensive patients on the Family Health Program

The aim of the present study was to analyze adherence to drug treatment in hypertensive patients enrolled on the Family Health Program in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo State. This transversal study was conducted between August and December 2006, in which 109 patients were interviewed using the Morisky and Green Test to measure adherence level to pharmacotherapy. Variables that may be related to adherence level were also investigated, such as demographic characteristics, health care team and health service related factors, and pharmacotherapy related factors. The test scores were analyzed by two criteria: patients were categorized as "more adherent" if they had a score from 3 to 4 (criterion 1) or a score of 4 (criterion 2); patients with other scores were categorized as less adherent. Of all patients, 79.8% and 43.1% were classified as "more adherent" according to criterion 1 and criterion 2, respectively. With regard to the possible causes of non-adherence to treatment, statistically significant (p<0.05) associations were identified between "trust in the doctor" or "number of antihypertensive drugs used" and the level of adherence, according to criterion 2. These results indicated adequate adherence levels to drug treatment by the patients, and highlighted the importance of professional/patient interaction, trust in the doctor and the attitude by health professionals toward users.Este estudo teve como objetivo estudar a adesão ao tratamento farmacológico de pacientes hipertensos seguidos no Programa de Saúde da Família em Ribeirão Preto, SP. Realizou-se um estudo transversal entre agosto e dezembro de 2006, em que foram entrevistados 109 pacientes, utilizando-se o Teste de Morisky e Green para mensurar o grau de adesão ao tratamento. Variáveis que podem se relacionar com o grau de adesão também foram estudadas, tais como: características demográficas, fatores relacionados à equipe e ao serviço de saúde e à terapia medicamentosa. Os resultados do teste foram avaliados por dois critérios: os pacientes foram classificados como "mais aderentes" se apresentassem pontuação de 3 a 4 (critério 1) ou de 4 (critério 2); pacientes com outras pontuações foram classificados como "menos aderentes". Dos pacientes, 79,8% e 43,1% foram "mais aderentes" de acordo com os critérios 1 e 2, respectivamente. Em relação às possíveis causas da não adesão, observaram-se associações significativas (p