Abstract

VELANDIA-ARIAS, Anita  and  RIVERA-ALVAREZ, Luz N. Self-care agency and adherence to treatment in people having cardiovascular risk. Rev. salud pública [online]. 2009, vol.11, n.4, pp.538-548. ISSN 0124-0064.

Objective Determining the relationship between self-care agency and adherence to pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment in patients having cardiovascular risk factors at the Tunjuelito hospital in Bogota. Methodology This study involved a descriptive and correlational design which evaluated self-care agency ability and adherence to treatment in a random sample of 201 people having the following cardiovascular risk factors: being obese, having a sedentary lifestyle, arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus. The patients being studied were attending Tunjuelito hospital’s chronic-patient programme. Appraisal of self-care agency (ASA) scale and a questionnaire for evaluating behaviour regarding adherence to pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment from the NOC taxonomy were carried out in the research. Results 62.6 % of the people having cardiovascular risk factors had regular self-care agency ability, whilst 77 % presented good adherence to pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatment. Spearman’s coefficient revealed a 0.413 correlation between self-care agency ability and adherence to pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment, indicating moderate and positive correlation. Conclusions Self-care agency involves an individual’s active and tacit participation in discerning, decision-making and taking self-care action for maintaining and improving her/his health (i.e. adhering to prescribed treatment).

Keywords : Education; nursing; public health nursing; nursing care; nursing research; model; nursing; self-care; risk-factor; patient participation; patient compliance; treatment outcome.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )