Behavioural determinants of salt consumption among hypertensive individuals.

BACKGROUND: High salt consumption among populations remains a challenge for health professionals dealing with prevention and control of hypertension. The present study aimed to identify the psychosocial predictors of salt consumption among hypertensive individuals, based on an extended version of the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). Three salt consumption behaviours were studied: Behaviour 1- using <4 g of salt per day during cooking; Behaviour 2- avoiding adding salt/table salt use to the prepared foods; and Behaviour 3- avoiding the consumption of foods with high salt content. METHODS: At baseline (n = 108), TPB and additional variables (self-efficacy, habit, past behaviour, hedonic determinant, self-perceived diet quality) were measured. At 2-month follow-up (n = 95), the three behaviours were assessed. Behaviour and intention were sequentially regressed on the study variables, using polytomous logistic regression and hierarchical linear regression with rank transformation, respectively. RESULTS: Behaviour 1 was predicted by intention [odds ratio (OR) = 6.23; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.81-21.52], whereas self-efficacy and habit predicted intention. Behaviour 2 exhibited high score mean and low variation and was predicted by self-perceived diet quality (OR = 2.56; 95% CI = 1.03-6.36). Behaviour 3 was predicted by the hedonic determinant (OR = 1.42; 95% CI = 1.01-1.98). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that salt-related behaviours are explained by a variety of determinants. Among these determinants, special consideration should be given to motivational and hedonic aspects.

Non-effect of p22-phox -930A/G polymorphism on end-organ damage in Brazilian hypertensive patients.

The p22-phox subunit is an essential component of NAD(P)H oxidase enzymatic complex, which is considered the major source of oxidative stress products in the cardiovascular system. The -930G allele of p22-phox has been associated with higher promoter activity, increased NAD(P)H oxidase-mediated oxidative stress and hypertension. We recently reported that left ventricular hypertrophy is accompanied by increased myocardial p22-phox expression in aortic-banded rats, suggesting that this protein might be involved in hypertensive cardiac hypertrophy.

[AIDS patients' compliance with antiretroviral treatment: notified difficulties and measures for improvement at a teaching hospital]. / Adesão de pacientes com AIDS ao tratamento com antiretrovirais: dificuldades relatadas e proposiçao de medidas atenuantes em um hospital escola.

This study aimed at identifying the incidence of drug intake errors and the main therapy-related difficulties among AIDS patients as well as at proposing measures to increase patients' adherence to treatment. Sixty-one patients with AIDS assisted by the University Hospital of São Paulo State University at Campinas were interviewed. The most frequent errors concerned the combinations of drugs and the length of fasting. The difficulties reported were adverse effects and the variety of drugs. Based on these data, the authors proposed the use of an illustrated guide for drug-related information. It is hoped that individualized guidance can contribute to minimize errors concerning adherence to therapy.

[Contribution to nursing care for patients with mitral valve disease]. / Subsídios para a assistência de enfermagem a pacientes com valvopatia mitral.

The purpose of this study was to define: the profile of patients with mitral valve dysfunction (stenosis and/or insufficiency) who were assisted at the University Outpatients' Clinic, the knowledge that these patients had concerning their disorder and the main difficulties and limitations resulting from it. The necessary data were obtained by interviewing 29 patients from November 1997 to February 1998. An analysis was conducted through the Content Analysis Technique. The results obtained helped to understand the problem under the individual's and his family's viewpoint, which helped to elaborate a nursing care program with an educational focus.

[Ambulatory nursing care for patients with aortic valve disease]. / Levantamento de subsídios para assistência de enfermagem ambulatorial a pacientes portadores de valvopatia aórtica.

This study aimed at characterizing the profile of outpatients with aortic valve dysfunction, identifying their knowledge about the disease, their major limitations during everyday activities and their means of coping with their predicament. The data obtained by semi-structured interviews with 12 patients and analyzed by quantitative and qualitative methods enabled to identify how the patients perceive the illness and the treatment as well as the implications to their everyday activities, that is, they allowed to capture reality from the subject's perspective, which is the knowledge for the elaboration of an educational proposal.

[Compliance in antihypertensive therapy: analyses in scientific articles]. / A adesão ao tratamento na hipertensão arterial: análise da produção científica.

The aim of this study was to evaluate scientific articles published between 1991-1995, in order to identify the compliance in antihypertensive therapy, One hundred seven scientific articles were evaluated. The results showed that 68% were related to patient, 63% to pharmacological treatment, 62% general, 39% non pharmacological treatment, 34% organizational factors, and 8% related to disease. Compliance with antihypertensive therapy was the major challenge of hypertension management and to know how this aspect was focalized in scientific articles possible reduce non compliance in hypertension.

[Data collection: evaluation of a pilot model]. / Coleta de dados: avaliação de um modelo piloto.

The overall purpose of this study was to explore nurses' feelings about the applicability and adequacy of a pilot model of nursing assessment (PMNA) developed for coronary care units (CCU) in order to obtain data that could help in establishing a definitive model. The evaluation, performed by 11 CCU nurses, showed that they considered the development and implementation of PMNA as valuable, and that its design was adequate for interviewing cardiac patients. These results will be employed in the elaboration of a definitive model of nursing assessment.