A 4-YEAR STUDY WITH THERAPEUTIC OBSERVATI ON OF PATIENTS WITH HYPERTENSION

We attempt to quantify compliance with hypotension medication regimens in 620 patients with hypertension at the Centros de Salud (community health centers) of Novelda and Elche (in the province of Alicante) and to assess the impact of a mixed-strategy health education program. Th e method used to evaluate compliance is the self-communicated intervie w as indicated by Haynes-Sackett. The intervention consisted of indivi dualized instruction, family support, educational leaflets, and writte n instructions. Among the results obtained, we emphasize the following . First, 64% completed the treatment as prescribed, 16% stopped taking the medication, and 20% followed the regimen in a sporadic fashion, l ack of motivation and forgetfulness being the main reasons cited for t he latter. Second, 27% of the patients with hypertension -among them, primarily young people and men- do not visit the center for monitoring . Third, the health education program is responsible for a significant increase in blood pressure measurements and in therapeutic compliance , also reducing the number of drop-outs. Fourth, 26% did not come to t he unit at the end of the study period (four years) despite phone call s and house visits as reminders.