Effect of a Cognitive-behavioral Program on Adherence to Antihypertensive Therapeutic Regimen in Older Adults: A Quasi-experimental Study

Aims: To determine the effect of a cognitive-behavioral program on adherence to the antihypertensive therapeutic regimen of the elderly.

Study Design: Quasi-experimental study.

Place and Duration of Study: It was performed in the House of the Grandfather, nursing homes Juan de Celayeta and Beautiful Sunset San Juan Bosco rest house, all of Tepic, Nayarit, between April 2015 and May 2016.

Methodology: We included 49 elderly people with arterial hypertension, in two groups: interventional and comparison, with written informed consent. Data collection was done with the questionnaire of therapeutic adherence for hypertension; blood pressure was measured with a portable aneroid sphygmomanometer. The cognitive behavioral intervention was performed on the intervention group based on psychoeducation and cognitive restructuring to improve adherence to the therapeutic regimen.

Results: Both groups were similar in their sociodemographic characteristics. For therapeutic adherence, there were statistically significant differences between the intervention group and the comparison group (P <.05). Membership to the intervention group showed a strong effect on non-hypertension, post intervention (P <.05).

Conclusion: The cognitive-behavioral program had a positive effect on adherence to the antihypertensive therapeutic regimen, showing significant changes in the intervention group, and a reduction in the proportion of patients with hypertension.