Evaluation of treatment adherence in chronic health conditions through pharmaceutical care

Abstract

Introduction: Non-contagious chronic diseases (NCDs) require integrated actions of the health care system, health professionals, and users for effective control. Adherence means the voluntary and active participation of the user in the development and adjustment of the care plan. Goals: To evaluate the pharmacotherapeutic treatment adherence in chronic health conditions through pharmaceutical care. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study, carried out from December 2015 to February 2017. Methods: The method used for the assessment of treatment adherence was based on the recommendations of the Ministry of Health for the implementation of Clinical Pharmaceutical Services and the instrument Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BaMQ). Results: A total of 85 individuals with an average age of 62 (±11.24) participated in the study. Most of them were females (69.4%), elderly (58.9%), sedentary (53.0%) and with low education level. The average number of drugs prescribed per participant was 5.05. Thirty-four individuals (40.0%) reported some movement, visual or hearing limitation and 18 (21.78%) reported the need for assistance to manage their medication. The results of the BaMQ pointed out that 84.71% (n=72) individuals showed a tendency to treatment adherence. Conclusions: Considering the characteristics of the sample evaluated: elderly, low education level, polypharmacy, movement, visual or hearing limitation and presenting drug-related difficulties, it is suggested that the questionnaire BaMQ has overestimated the results of treatment adherence and that its interpretation should involve other aspects, added to the critical view of the professionals involved in patient care.