ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To analyse the efficacy of health education (HE) through group session with postal back-up in furthering compliance with therapy for Lipaemia. DESIGN: Controlled clinical trial, with random distribution. SETTING: Primary care. PATIENTS: 110 patients with Hypercholesterolaemia, with new diagnoses or not in treatment, in which medical treatment with statins was indicated as a start or change in medication. INTERVENTIONS: They were distributed in two groups at random, with observation four months after being included in the study and appointments after one, two and four months. 1. Control group (CG): 55 patients who received HE from their family doctor. 2. Intervention group (IG): 55 patients whose HE was monitored: a) a group HE session and b) back-up by letter sent to their homes. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Patients whose consumption was between 80 and 110% of the amount prescribed were defined as compliant. The pill count was recorded. The percentages of compliant patients and mean compliance (chi squared, Student's t) were analysed. 108 individuals, 41 men and 67 women, completed the trial. There was no difference between the two groups as to age, sex, evolution time, number of diseases and dosage of medicines consumed. 71.3% were compliant (CI, 62.8-79.8%), CG = 61.8% and IG 81.1% (p < 0.05). The mean percentage of compliance was 86.1 +/- 14.3 overall, with CG = 83.8 +/- 14 and IG 88.5 +/- 14 (p = NS). CONCLUSIONS: The HE intervention with a group session and postal back-up is an effective way of improving therapeutic compliance in cases of hypercholesterolaemia.
