HEALTH BELIEFS AND COMPLIANCE OF HIPERTENSIVE PATIENTS CONTROLLED AT COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS, CONCEPCION - CHILE, 1997

Abstract

The purpose of this predictive study was to identify which variables of the Health Belief Model for the sick role are predictors of compliant behavior. A sample of 122 patients was selected from a universe of 244 hypertensive patients with at least 2 + years of participation in the hipertensión subprogram held by the Community Health Centers of Concepción. Modified Miller's Health Behavior Scale and the Health Belief Questionnaire were used to collect data. The first, to measure independent variables that were hipotetized to be predictors of this behavior. Both instruments showed high reliability. With t Student, (ANOVA) and Linear Regression nine of the 24 formulated variables had been considered having effect on compliance probed to be predictors of compliant behavior. These variables were: sex,religión, occupational activity, knowled about the hipertensive desease, adaptation to a long lasting treatment, number of Controls attended, perception of accesibility to nutritional regimen, perceptions of complexity and efficacy of the treatment proposed for the desease. Results
allon us to recommend the need of reorientation of care of this kind of patients considerring their health beliefs. There is a need also to continué investigating compliance bahavior in order to understand better how to motívate the patient to become compliant.