Family nurse intervention in the mental adjustment of patients with arterial hypertension

Abstract

Background: The increase on life expectancy, and the raise of chronic condition, represents new challenges to the family nurse practitioner. Cardio-vascular diseases are the main cause of death among the population, however the numbers have been declining in past years [1]. There is an important economic impact that is a result of the incapacity cause by such diseases, as well as the treatment-related costs. Arterial hypertension has been gaining some relevance, due to its prevalence, and because its epidemiological base studies reveal a lack of control sample. Considering this problematic, a study was conducted, that analyses the mental adjustment of patients with arterial hypertension and the impact of the family nurse practitioner during appointments for hypertension monitoring. Objective: The objective was to evaluate the impact of the family nurse practitioner on the mental adjustment of patients that suffer from arterial hypertension, registered at the “HTA” program of the Personalised Healthcare Unit of Healthcare Centre of Sever do Vouga. Methods: A quantitative study was conducted, meeting one of the cycles of the research-action method, since an initial analysis was conducted, followed by the implementation of the intervention, and then carried by a new evaluation. Thus, using the Mental Adjustment to Disease Scale, as an evaluation instrument, regarding mental adjustment, along with a sociodemographic and clinical characterization questionnaire, addressed to the participants. The ethical principles were followed during the entire course of the investigation. Results: The participants in this study had and average age of 70.8 years, and being mostly females, diagnosed with for 8.4 years. To evaluate the internal consistency of MADS, it was calculated the Cronbach Alpha in moments 1 and 2, obtaining acceptable results, except for the subscale regarding fighting spirit. At moment 1 of the data collection, in the subscale regarding fighting spirit, all participants were classified as “fitted”, however for the remaining subscales, the participants were classified as “fitted” and “Not fitted”. The results obtained at moment 2, have revealed the impact from the conducted intervention, since the participants initially classified as “not fitted”, shifted to “fitted” at the 2nd moment. Conclusions: Performing a balance of the internship, it can be claimed that the expected competences and objectives were achieved. Ultimately, we can withdraw the conclusion that the intervention developed for the mental adjustment obtained the expected results, since the participants classified as “not fitted” on the 1st moment, were classified as “fitted” during the 2nd assessment moments.