Resumen de Ensayo sobre la eficacia de los programas de educación para la salud en el cumplimiento terapéutico de la hipertensión arterial
Emilio Márquez Contreras, J. J. Casado Martínez, J. Ramos Pérez, S. Sáenz Soubrier, J. P. Moreno García, B. Celotti Gómez, J. Gascón Vivó, José Luis Martín de Pablos
Objective. To analyse by means of a group session and postal support the efficacy of health education (HE) on compliance with therapy for light-to-moderate essential Hypertension.
Design. Controlled clinical trial with randomised distribution.
Setting. Primary Care.
Patients. 110 hypertense patients with new or uncontrolled Hypertension, for whom treatment with Trandolapril as a start or change of medication was indicated.
Interventions. The patients were split into two groups at random, with observation for six months after inclusion in the study and monthly attendance: 1) Control group (CG) of 55 patients who received HE from their family doctor; 2) Intervention group (IG) of 55 patients controled.
Measurements and results. Patients were defined as compliant if their consumption was 80-110% of what was prescribed. The counting of pills was recorded. Percentages of compliant patients and mean compliance were analysed with the Chi squared and Student's t tests. 109 people completed, 77 of them women. Neither group differed as to age, sex, length of evolution, number of diseases or doses of drugs consumed.
Conclusions. Intervening in HE with a group session and postal follow-up is an efficacious measure to improve therapeutic compliance in Hypertension cases.
