Antihypertensive medication non-adherence and its associated factors among adult patients with uncontrolled hypertension in a primary care setting

Introduction: Medication nonadherence is a significant challenge in the management of patients with hypertension. This study aimed to assess antihypertensive medication nonadherence and its associated factors in a cohort of patients with uncontrolled hypertension. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 225 adult patients with uncontrolled hypertension systematically selected from attendees of the general outpatient clinic of an academic tertiary hospital in Kano, Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on their sociodemographic, clinical, and follow-up appointment characteristics. An 8-item medication adherence scale was used to assess medication adherence. Results: There were 155 (68.9%) females. The participants’ median age (interquartile range [IQR]) was 55 (45–63) years. Their median adherence score (IQR) was 4 (1–6) of 8, while 87.1% were non-adherent to antihypertensive medication. The duration of treatment (p = 0.009), current blood pressure (p = 0.006), and adherence to follow-up clinic appointments(p = 0.0004) were significantly associated with their median medication nonadherence scores. Conclusion: The prevalence of medication non-adherence in this population is high; however, patients who have been treated for more than 5 years, those with high blood pressure readings (Stage 2 hypertension), and those who were adherent to follow-up appointments had worse medication adherence scores than the other counterparts. These findings justify the need to extensively explore (especially those with long duration of treatment and Stage 2 blood pressure readings) and address the reasons for non-adherence to antihypertensive medication (which should include the identified associated factors), given that medication adherence is crucial in controlling hypertension and its consequences.

The effects of adequate dietary calcium intake in patients with hypoparathyroidism non-adherent to treatment: a prospective randomized controlled trial

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: A significant problem that compels clinicians in the conventional treatment of hypoparathyroidism is patients' non-adherence to treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of adequate Ca intake with dietary recommendations among hypoparathyroidism patients who persistently use Ca supplementation irregularly on plasma Ca and phosphate levels. METHODS: This prospective, randomized, controlled study was conducted on patients diagnosed with chronic hypoparathyroidism who persistently interrupt Ca supplementation therapy and therefore have a hypocalcemic course. Patients with a total daily Ca intake below 800 mg were randomized. All patients were advised to keep the doses of active vitamin D and Ca supplements they were currently using. The patients in the study group (n=32) were advised to consume 1,000-1,200 mg of Ca daily, and the patients in the control group (n=35) were advised to continue their diet according to their daily habits. After 12 weeks of follow-up, the patients' laboratory values were compared between groups to assess treatment goals. RESULTS: The mean of the total Ca level was 8.56±0.36 mg/dL in the study group and was found to be significantly higher than that in the control group, which was 7.67±0.48 mg/dL (p<0.001). The mean serum phosphate and serum Ca-P product levels were significantly higher in the study group (p<0.001) but did not exceed the safe upper limits in any patient. CONCLUSION: A suitable increase in dietary Ca intake could effectively control hypocalcemia in patients with hypoparathyroidism who persistently interrupt the recommended calcium supplementation.

Representações sociais de pessoas vivendo com hiv: do abandono do tratamento à motivação para a retomada / Representaciones sociales de las personas que viven con vih: del abandono del tratamiento a la motivación para reanudar / Social representations of people living with hiv: from treatment abandonment to motivation for resuming

Introdução: O uso contínuo da terapia antirretroviral é eficiente para interromper a replicação viral causada pelo Vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana impedindo o comprometimento do sistema imunológico e o aparecimento das infecções oportunistas. Estima-se que em 2021, 10,2 milhões de pessoas infectadas pelo HIV não se beneficiaram com o uso dos antirretrovirais em todo o mundo. No mesmo ano esse indicador atingiu 333 mil pessoas, e na esfera municipal de Londrina, 288 pessoas vivendo com HIV encontravam-se em abandono do tratamento. Objetivo: Apreender as representações sociais de pessoas vivendo com HIV acerca do abandono do tratamento e a motivação para a retomada. Percurso metodológico: Trata-se de um estudo qualitativo pautado na Teoria das Representações Sociais de Serge Moscovici. O cenário foi um Serviço de Atendimento Especializado em HIV/aids localizado na região Sul do Brasil. A população foi composta por 288 pessoas diagnosticadas com HIV em abandono do tratamento por período superior a 100 dias. Destas, 250 foram excluídas em função de critérios relacionados a informações cadastrais incompletas ou equivocadas, e aspectos impeditivos do comparecimento ao serviço e de contato. Outras 18 pessoas foram consideradas perdas por desistência. A amostra foi composta por 20 pessoas que se enquadraram aos critérios de elegibilidade e aceitaram participar do estudo. A coleta das informações ocorreu entre junho de 2021 e junho de 2022 em entrevistas semiestruturadas audiogravadas e transcritas na íntegra. Para análise das falas foi utilizado o discurso do sujeito coletivo. Resultados: Participaram do estudo 20 pessoas vivendo com HIV, sendo 12 homens e oito mulheres, com idade entre 27 e 55 anos. O tempo de abandono variou entre 210 e 1580 dias. A análise das entrevistas permitiu a emersão de 18 ideias centrais e duas ancoragens, as quais foram agrupadas em quatro grandes temas: 1) Abandono do tratamento por questões intrínsecas à pessoa vivendo com HIV; 2) Abandono do tratamento por questões ligadas à terapia medicamentosa; 3) Abandono do tratamento por dogmas sociais; 4) Forças propulsoras para a retomada do tratamento. Considerações finais: A análise qualitativa das representações sociais das pessoas vivendo com HIV indicou que o abandono da terapia antirretroviral é multifatorial, e envolve questões socioculturais, geográficas, familiares e biológicas. É essencial considerar todas as questões que permeiam e impactam as vidas das pessoas vivendo com HIV em abandono do tratamento para além das questões biológicas, viabilizando a implementação de ações que contribuam para a efetividade das políticas públicas de saúde no intuito de estimular a adesão e encorajar a retomada ao tratamento. Almeja-se que esta investigação possa despertar para as questões subjetivas ao universo da pessoa que vive com HIV e estas respeitadas na prática humanizada, voltadas ao incentivo do tratamento contínuo para controle da infecção e promoção da qualidade de vida.

Introduction: The continuous use of antiretroviral therapy is efficient to interrupt viral replication caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, preventing the compromise of the immune system and the appearance of opportunistic infections. It is estimated that in 2021, 10.2 million people infected with HIV did not benefit from the use of antiretrovirals worldwide. In the same year, this indicator reached 333,000 people, and at the municipal level of Londrina, 288 people living with HIV were abandoning treatment. Objective: To apprehend the social representations of people living with HIV about abandoning treatment and the motivation for resuming it. Methodological path: This is a qualitative study based on Serge Moscovici's Theory of Social Representations. The setting was a Specialized Care Service for HIV/AIDS located in the south of Brazil. The population consisted of 288 people diagnosed with HIV who had abandoned treatment for more than 100 days. Of these, 250 were excluded due to criteria related to incomplete or wrong registration information, and aspects that impeded attendance at the service and contact. Another 18 people were considered dropout losses. The sample consisted of 20 people who met the eligibility criteria and agreed to participate in the study. Data collection took place between June 2021 and June 2022 in semi-structured interviews that were audio-recorded and transcribed in full. For the analysis of the speeches, the collective subject discourse was used. Results: 20 people living with HIV participated in the study, 12 men and eight women, aged between 27 and 55 years. The abandonment time varied between 210 and 1580 days. The analysis of the interviews allowed the emergence of 18 central ideas and two anchors, which were grouped into four major themes: 1) Abandonment of treatment due to issues intrinsic to the person living with HIV; 2) Abandonment of treatment due to issues related to drug therapy; 3) Abandonment of treatment by social dogmas; 4) Driving forces for the resumption of treatment. Final considerations: The qualitative analysis of the social representations of people living with HIV indicated that the abandonment of antiretroviral therapy is multifactorial, and involves sociocultural, geographic, family and biological issues. It is essential to consider all the issues that permeate and impact the lives of people living with HIV who abandon treatment in addition to biological issues, enabling the implementation of actions that contribute to the effectiveness of public health policies in order to stimulate adherence and encourage resumption of treatment. It is hoped that this investigation may awaken to the subjective issues of the universe of the person living with HIV and these respected in humanized practice, aimed at encouraging continuous treatment to control the infection and promote quality of life.

Introducción: El uso continuo de la terapia antirretroviral es eficaz para interrumpir la replicación viral provocada por el Virus de la Inmunodeficiencia Humana, previniendo el compromiso del sistema inmunológico y la aparición de infecciones oportunistas. Se estima que en 2021, 10,2 millones de personas infectadas por el VIH no se beneficiaron del uso de antirretrovirales en todo el mundo. En el mismo año, este indicador alcanzó a 333.000 personas, ya nivel municipal de Londrina, 288 personas viviendo con VIH estaban abandonando el tratamiento. Objetivo: Aprehender las representaciones sociales de personas viviendo con VIH sobre el abandono del tratamiento y la motivación para retomarlo. Camino metodológico: Se trata de un estudio cualitativo basado en la Teoría de las Representaciones Sociales de Serge Moscovici. El escenario fue un Servicio de Atención Especializada en VIH/SIDA ubicado en el sur de Brasil. La población estuvo conformada por 288 personas diagnosticadas con VIH que habían abandonado el tratamiento por más de 100 días. De estos, 250 fueron excluidos por criterios relacionados con información de registro incompleta o incorrecta, y aspectos que impidieron la asistencia al servicio y contacto. Otras 18 personas fueron consideradas pérdidas por deserción. La muestra estuvo conformada por 20 personas que cumplieron con los criterios de elegibilidad y aceptaron participar en el estudio. La recolección de datos ocurrió entre junio de 2021 y junio de 2022 en entrevistas semiestructuradas que fueron grabadas en audio y transcritas en su totalidad. Para el análisis de los discursos se utilizó el discurso del sujeto colectivo. Resultados: Participaron del estudio 20 personas viviendo con VIH, 12 hombres y ocho mujeres, con edades entre 27 y 55 años. El tiempo de abandono varió entre 210 y 1580 días. El análisis de las entrevistas permitió el surgimiento de 18 ideas centrales y dos anclas, que fueron agrupadas en cuatro grandes temas: 1) Abandono del tratamiento por cuestiones intrínsecas a la persona que vive con VIH; 2) Abandono del tratamiento por cuestiones relacionadas con la farmacoterapia; 3) Abandono de tratamiento por dogmas sociales; 4) Fuerzas impulsoras de la reanudación del tratamiento. Consideraciones finales: El análisis cualitativo de las representaciones sociales de las personas viviendo con VIH indicó que el abandono de la terapia antirretroviral es multifactorial, e involucra cuestiones socioculturales, geográficas, familiares y biológicas. Es fundamental considerar todas las cuestiones que permean e impactan la vida de las personas que viven con el VIH que abandonan el tratamiento además de las cuestiones biológicas, posibilitando la implementación de acciones que contribuyan a la efectividad de las políticas públicas de salud para estimular la adherencia y alentar la reanudación. De tratamiento se espera que esta investigación pueda despertar a las cuestiones subjetivas del universo de la persona que vive con VIH y estas respetadas en la práctica humanizada, con el objetivo de incentivar el tratamiento continuo para el control de la infección y promover la calidad de vida.

Nonadherence to immunosuppressives and treatment in kidney transplant: Adhere Brazil Study

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To estimate the prevalence and variability of nonadherence to immunosuppressives and nonpharmacological treatment across kidney transplantation centers and two health access-disparate regions in Brazil. METHODS In a cross-sectional design, a random multistage sample of 1,105 patients was included, based on center transplantation activity (low/moderate/high) and region (R1: North/Northeast/Mid-West; and R2: South/Southeast). Nonadherence to immunosuppressives (implementation phase) was assessed using the Basel Assessment of Adherence to Immunosuppressive Medications Scale (BAASIS)©. Self-report questionnaires assessed nonadherence to physical activity, smoking cessation, alcohol intake, and appointment keeping. We compared regions using the adjusted-χ2 or t-test. RESULTS Most patients were men (58.5%), white (51.4%), and had a mean age of 47.5 (SD = 12.6) years. Regarding kidney transplantation centers, 75.9% were from R2 and 38.2% had low activity. The patients in R2 were older, white-majority, had more frequently steady partners, and received peritoneal dialysis. Nonadherence to immunosuppressives ranged from 11-65.2%; 44.5-90% to physical activity; 0-23.7% to appointment keeping; and 0-14% to smoking cessation. The total prevalence of nonadherence and by region (R1 versus R2) were: for immunosuppressives, 39.7% (44.9% versus 38.1%, p = 0.18); for smoking, 3.9% (1% versus 5%, p < 0.001); for physical activity, 69.1% (71% versus 69%, p = 0.48); for appointment keeping, 13% (12.7% versus 12%, p = 0.77); and for alcohol consumption, 0%. CONCLUSION Despite differences among centers and high variability, only the nonadherence to smoking cessation was higher in the region with greater access to kidney transplantation. We suppose that differences in healthcare access may have been overcome by other positive aspects of the post kidney transplantation treatment.

Medication non-adherence related to patients’ attitudes and knowledge rather than socio-cultural factors: a study of cardiac clinic attendees at a public healthcare institute

Background: Medication non-adherence contributes significantly to sub-optimum care, for reasons that could be unique to specific localities. The study sought to identify reasons for non-adherence and associated factors in cardiac clinic attendees at a leading tertiary health institution in Trinidad and Tobago.Methods: This cross-sectional study included a convenience sample of cardiac clinic attendees. The data collection instrument was a questionnaire comprising items regarding socio-demographic characteristics, medical history, social support and reasons for medication non-adherence. Data were collected between March and July, 2016. Non-adherence was identified with total scores of >1 using selected similar questions to that used in the Morisky four-item adherence instrument. Data analyses involved both descriptive and inferential methods.Results: Non-adherent patients represented the largest proportion of participants (n=270, 78.3%). Participants were predominantly women, aged >50 years, of Indo-Trinidadian descent, married, and unemployed. Carelessness (n=251, 93.0%), ceasing medication use when feeling well (n=217, 80.4%), forgetfulness (n=187, 69.3%), and ceasing medication use when feeling worse (n=151, 50.6%) were the leading reasons for non-adherence, followed by unpleasant effects of medication and cost (n=144, 53.3%). Associated factors included feeling that one would become more ill upon ceasing medication use (p=0.003), the importance of understanding the reasons for taking medication (p=0.017), the importance of following physicians’ instructions (p=0.023), and educational level (p=0.040).Conclusions: Effective communication regarding patients’ concerns and potential adverse medication effects between patients and healthcare providers could promote greater adherence