PERCEPTION OF FEMALE PATIENTS IN A PRIMARY CARE SERVICE REGARDING QUITTING THE TREATMENT OF DEPRESSION

Abstract

Early treatment of depressive disorders is considered a health priority. One obstacle in achieving this purpose is the low adherence or abandonment of treatment performed by some consultants. The aim of this research is to understand the perception of people who deserted their treatment in primary care settings on the factors that led to the abandonment. The research uses an inductive strategy and qualitative approach as methodological basis. Participants were women aged 18 to 65 years, diagnosed with depression, who entered and left the National Program for Diagnosis and Treatment of Depression in the first half of 2008 and 2009 in two family care centers at the 8th Region, Chile. A total of 15 in-depth interviews were conducted and thereafter analyzed using the constant comparison method. The reasons for the abandonment referred to obstacles in the access and lack of continuity in the treatment, as well as factors related to negative perception of the treatment not only the pharmacological but also the psychological one. It was observed that consultants´ involvement in treatment was low due to scarce knowledge of their diagnosis received or a discrepancy between the treatment received regarding their expectations and beliefs. These results indicate that nurses could play a key role in improving the adherence to the treatment by considering patients’ expectations, beliefs and needs.