Telenursing as a strategy for the investigation of factors associated with inadequacy of adherence to pharmacological therapy in patients diagnosed with refractory angina

Abstract

Introduction: Refractory angina (RA) affects about 5% to 10% of patients with coronary artery disease according to the Joint Study Group of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Pharmacological treatment is the mainstay for the management of RA, many patients are considered non-adherent to pharmacological therapy. Understanding inadequate adherence is essential to obtain the best therapeutic results. Objective: To use telenursing to investigate factors associated with inadequate adherence to pharmacological therapy in patients diagnosed with RA. Method: Prospective descriptive study carried out with the participation of patients being followed up at the Chronic Coronary Disease Clinic. To assess medication adherence the Adherence to Refills and Medications Scale (ARMS) instrument was used. Results: A total of 13 patients were followed up in 68 nursing consultations (telenursing) with the application of the ARMS form. The mean adherence score to pharmacological treatment was 13.1. The need to purchase medicines was reported on average 63.1% of the time. The non-acquisition of drugs related to the high cost occurred in 17%. The estimated monthly cost for the acquisition of the most prescribed drugs for the treatment of RA reaches R$ 385.35, corresponding to 27% of the national minimum wage. Conclusion: The present study brought to light the lack of medication and the high costs of prescribed drugs as motivators for inadequate pharmacological adherence, a factor that has not been highlighted in the literature. Through navigation, the nurse identified the economic situation as a motivator for the behavior of non-adherence to treatment.