Introdução: Um dos aspectos primordiais para o controle da tuberculose é a adesão ao tratamento. Tendo em vista as condições precárias de vida que os doentes em geral apresentam, incentivos relacionados ao suporte social e destinados ao alcance da cura têm sido recomendados e instituídos por órgãos governamentais. Neste sentido, este estudo teve o objetivo de analisar como profissionais de saúde da atenção básica percebem a influência de tais medidas na adesão ao tratamento da tuberculose em algumas Coordenadorias de Saúde do Município de São Paulo. Materiais e Métodos: Estudo exploratório e descritivo, com corte transversal e de abordagem qualiquantitativa. Amostra representativa de enfermeiros e médicos da Atenção Primária à Saúde de três Supervisões de Vigilância em Saúde do Município de São Paulo foi entrevistada, por meio de questionário semiestruturado, no período de maio a julho de 2015. O referencial teórico do estudo está posto na concepção da Determinação Social do Processo Saúde-Doença e em um dado conceito de adesão. Os dados quantitativos foram armazenados em banco de dados e os qualitativos (depoimentos dos profissionais) foram submetidos à técnica de análise de discurso. Os procedimentos éticos foram resguardados. Resultados: Entrevistou-se 86 profissionais, 60,5% enfermeiros e o restante eram médicos. A maior parcela (88,4%) afirmou conhecer as políticas de saúde municipais voltadas à para TB; 91,8% sabiam sobre a oferta de incentivos pelo Município; 90,7% referiram que o Tratamento Diretamente Observado contribui para a adesão ao tratamento; 65,1% apontaram não ter participado de capacitação sobre a doença; e apenas 39,5% souberam informar sobre indicadores relacionados à TB. Identificou-se, nos depoimentos, que incentivos como cesta básica e vale-transporte são muito relevantes para a cura do paciente quando associados ao vínculo com a equipe, principalmente porque os pacientes geralmente apresentam difíceis condições de vida. Porém, os incentivos não influenciam a adesão no caso de usuários de drogas ilícitas ou álcool, moradores de rua, pacientes com maior poder aquisitivo e aqueles que deixam de cuidar da própria saúde. Conclusão: Os incentivos constituem medida que ajuda na adesão ao tratamento da TB, principalmente quando associados ao vínculo entre a equipe de saúde e os pacientes. Considera-se que tais incentivos contribuem para o enfrentamento do tratamento, podem ser utilizados como estratégia paliativa, mas as intervenções dos profissionais de saúde e dos gestores devem ser orientadas a transformar a situação da TB, o que significa apoiar os processos que ajudem a mudar as condições de vida dos pacientes. / Introduction: One of the main aspects for the tuberculosis control is the adherence to the treatment. Usually TB patients come from a poor living conditions background and in general, incentives related to the social support to achieve the cure have been recommended and instituted by government agencies. Thus, this study aimed to analyze how primary health care professionals perceive the influence of such measures on adherence to the tuberculosis treatment in some of the Health Coordinations in São Paulo City. Materials and Methods: This is an exploratory and descriptive study, cross-sectional and quali-quantitative approach. Representative sample of nurses and physicians of Primary Health Care from three Surveillance Health Division of São Paulo city were interviewed through semi-structured questionnaire from May to July 2015. The Social Determination of the Health-Disease Process and an adherence concept were used as a theoretical framework. Quantitative data were filed in the database and qualitative (professionals speeches) were submitted to a discourse analysis technique. Ethical procedures were respected. Results: We interviewed 86 professionals, 60.5% nurses and the others were physicians. The majority (88.4%) knew about the municipal health policies for TB; 91.8% about the provision of incentives by the municipality; 90.7% reported that the Directly Observed Treatment contributes to the treatment adherence; 65.1% indicated not having participated in training about the disease; and only 39.5% were able to report on TB-related indicators. From the speeches it was identified that incentives such as food package and transportation are very relevant to the patient\'s healing when combined with the bond to the team, especially because patients usually have difficult living conditions. However, the incentives do not influence the adherence in the case of users of illicit drugs or alcohol, the homeless, patients with higher purchasing power and those who fail to take care of their own health. Conclusion: The incentives contribute to the TB treatment adherence, especially when associated with the link between health staff and patients. Those incentives help to face treatment, they can be used as a palliative strategy, but the interventions of health professionals and managers should be instructed to transform TB situation, what means to give support to the processes to change the patients life conditions.

Considerada universal, a doença de Parkinson (DP) ocupa a segunda posição entre as doenças neurodegenerativas mais comuns em idosos. A depressão é a comorbidade psiquiátrica mais comumente associada à esta doença e tem sido apontada repetidamente como a principal determinante da piora da qualidade de vida (QV) nestes pacientes como também um dos fatores que levam à pior adesão aos medicamentos propostos. Neste contexto o objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a prevalência de depressão em pacientes com DP em seguimento em um ambulatório especializado como também verificar o impacto da depressão na QV destes pacientes e na adesão ao tratamento com levodopa. O estudo foi realizado no ambulatório de distúrbios do movimento do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto - USP. Foram selecionados 112 pacientes consecutivos com diagnóstico de DP em uso de levodopa, que foram entrevistados por meio da aplicação das seguintes escalas: Escala geriátrica de depressão com 15 itens (GDS-15), Parkinson\'s disease questionnaire-39 item version (PDQ-39), teste Morisky e Green e o Instrumento para Avaliar Atitudes Frente à Tomada de Remédios (IAAFTR). Foi encontrada a prevalência de depressão de 25% (n=28) entre os pacientes e uma forte correlação entre a GDS-15 e todas as dimensões do PDQ-39, evidenciando o real impacto que a depressão causa na QV dos pacientes com DP. Dos 112 pacientes, 53% (n=59) não apresentaram adesão ao seu tratamento, sendo que 52% reportaram que são descuidados quanto ao horário de tomarem sua medicação. Não foi encontrada correlação entre a presença de sintomas depressivos e a adesão do paciente à sua terapia antiparkinsoniana. O estudo demonstrou que a depressão está associada à piora da QV em pacientes com DP, afetando todas suas dimensões, especialmente a dimensão mobilidade. Toda a equipe de saúde que cuida destes pacientes devem ser encorajados e preparados para ajudar na investigação de sintomas depressivos na DP, por ser o seu tratamento a base crucial para a melhora da QV destes pacientes. / Considered as universal, Parkinson\'s disease (PD) ranks second among the most common neurodegenerative diseases in the elderly. Depression is the most common psychiatric comorbidity associated with this disease and has been identified repeatedly as the main determinant of the worsening of quality of life (QoL) in these patients but also one of the factors that lead to poor adherence to medication proposed. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of depression in PD patients followed up in a specialized clinic and also to verify the impact of depression on the QoL of these patients and adherence to treatment with levodopa. The study was conducted in movement disorders clinic of the Hospital das Clinicas, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto - USP. We selected 112 consecutive patients diagnosed with PD in use of levodopa, who were interviewed by the application of the following scales: Geriatric Depression Scale with 15 items (GDS-15), Parkinson\'s disease questionnaire-39 item version (PDQ-39), Morisky and Green test and Instrument to Measure Attitudes Toward Taking Medications (IAAFTR). A prevalence of depression of 25% (n = 28) and a strong correlation was found between the GDS-15 and all dimensions of the PDQ-39, showing the real impact that depression causes the QoL of patients with PD. Of the 112 patients, 53% (n = 59) showed no adherence to their treatment, and 52% reported that they are careless as to the time to take your medication. No correlation was found between presence of depressive symptoms and patient adherence to their therapy. The study showed that depression is associated with decreased quality of life in patients with PD, affecting all its dimensions, especially the mobility dimension. Health team that takes care of these patients should be encouraged and prepared to assist in the investigation of depressive symptoms in PD, its treatment to be the crucial basis for the improvement of QoL of these patients

Este estudo teve como objetivo investigar a adesão ao tratamento medicamentoso em pacientes com depressão unipolar atendidos em um Núcleo de Saúde Mental, localizado em um município do interior paulista. Trata-se de um estudo retrospectivo, transversal, descritivo e com abordagem quantitativa. No entanto, dados qualitativos também foram utilizados para complementar os resultados. A população foi constituída por 168 pacientes com depressão unipolar que atenderam aos critérios de inclusão e exclusão do estudo. Para a coleta dos dados quantitativos foi empregada a técnica de entrevista estruturada, com a utilização de um questionário para os dados referentes ao perfil demográfico, socioeconômico, clínico e farmacoterapêutico, do teste de Medida de Adesão ao Tratamento - MAT e do Inventário de Depressão de Beck. Já para a coleta dos dados qualitativos foi aplicada a técnica de entrevista semi-estruturada gravada, realizada apenas em uma parcela dos pacientes do estudo (N=27). Para análise dos dados quantitativos foi utilizado o aplicativo Stata (versão 10.2) e para os dados qualitativos a Análise Temática, conforme proposta por Minayo. Os resultados revelaram que a maioria dos pacientes era do sexo feminino (84,5%), com idade acima de 50 anos (75%), com a cor da pele branca (76,8%), casada (57,1%) e com renda familiar menor que dois salários mínimos e meio (60,1%). Verificou-se, ainda, que a maioria dos pacientes (71%) foi considerada aderente ao tratamento medicamentoso. Identificou-se maior frequência de adesão aos medicamentos em pacientes sem depressão ou com depressão leve/moderada (p = 0,031), viúvos (p = 0,029), com cor da pele branca (p = 0,020), que realizavam apenas tratamento medicamentoso (p = 0,034), que receberam informação sobre o tratamento para depressão (p = 0,030) e que compravam o medicamento quando o mesmo estava em falta na rede pública (p = 0,016). Observou-se importante déficit de conhecimento dos pacientes em relação ao nome, dose e frequência de administração dos medicamentos, havendo maior porcentagem de adesão entre os pacientes que apresentaram de 51 a 100% de conhecimento em relação à frequência de administração dos medicamentos prescritos (p = 0,001). Os depoimentos dos sujeitos da pesquisa resultaram na elaboração de quatro categorias que revelam as principais dificuldades por eles vivenciadas no seguimento da terapêutica medicamentosa: \"os sintomas da depressão\", \"efeitos limitados e desgastantes da medicação e a polifarmacoterpia\", \"a necessidade de apoio\" e \"pouco conhecimento sobre a depressão e o tratamento\". Constatou-se que, embora a maioria dos pacientes estivesse satisfeita com a equipe de saúde e tratamento, seus depoimentos revelavam déficit de conhecimento sobre os medicamentos, dúvidas e queixas relacionadas ao atendimento. Espera-se que os resultados desta pesquisa forneçam subsídios para se repensar as estratégias de intervenção utilizadas nos serviços de saúde direcionadas à adesão ao tratamento medicamentoso por pessoas com depressão unipolar, visando o seu sucesso terapêutico. / The objective of this study was to investigate adherence to drug treatment in patients with unipolar depression followed at a Mental Health Center of a city in Upstate São Paulo. This retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive study was performed using a quantitative approach. Nevertheless, qualitative data were also used to complement the results. The study population consisted of 168 patients with unipolar depression, who complied with the established inclusion and exclusion criteria. The quantitative data were collected by means of structured interviews, using a questionnaire for demographic, socioeconomic, clinical and pharmacotherapeutic data, the Measurement of Adherence to Treatment - MAT and the Beck\'s Depression Inventory. The qualitative data, on the other hand, were collected using recorded semi-structured interviews, which were performed with only part of the sample (N=27). The quantitative data analysis was performed using the Sata application (version 10.2), while qualitative data were submitted to Thematic Analysis, as proposed by Minayo. The results revealed that most patients were women (84.5%), older than 50 years of age (75%), of white skin (76.8%), married (57.1%) and with a family income of less than 2.5 minimum salaries (60.1%). It was also observed that most patients (71%) adhered to the drug treatment. Patients with the best treatment adherence, were those with mild/moderate or no depression (p = 0.031), widowed (p = 0.029), of white skin (p = 0.020), whose treatment was only drug-based (p = 0.034), who had been instructed regarding the depression treatment (p = 0.030) and who bought the medication even when the public health service was unable to supply (p = 0.016). An important knowledge deficit was observed among the patients regarding the name, dose and administration frequency of the drugs, with better adherence among patients who presented 51 to 100% knowledge regarding the administration frequency of the prescribed drugs (p = 0.001). Based on the study subjects\' reports, four categories were obtained to describe the main difficulties they faced in following the drug treatment: \"the symptoms of depression\", \"limited and wearing effects of the drugs and polypharmacotherapy\", \"the need for support\" and \"little knowledge about depression and its treatment\". It was found that, regardless of most patients being satisfied with the health team and the treatment, their reports revealed knowledge deficit regarding the drugs, as well as questions and complaints related to the service. It is expected that the present study results serve as the basis to reconsider the intervention strategies used by health services aiming at achieving drug treatment adherence in people with unipolar depression, with a view to a successful treatment outcome.

Considerando que a hipertensão arterial sistêmica tem alta prevalência, baixas taxas de controle e que o risco de desenvolver a doença aumenta com a idade, este estudo teve como propósito avaliar a adesão à terapêutica medicamentosa de um grupo de pacientes idosos, hipertensos e atendidos em uma Unidade Básica de Saúde do interior do estado de São Paulo, antes e após o desenvolvimento e a utilização de um Sistema Eletrônico de Uso Personalizado e Controlado de Medicamentos (SUPERMED). Com metodologia do tipo de estudo quase experimental, prospectivo e comparativo, foram acompanhados 32 idosos hipertensos, que utilizavam pelo menos quatro medicamentos diferentes continuamente, em períodos diferentes: \"antes da implantação do SUPERMED\", no \"dia da implantação\" e \"após a implantação do SUPERMED\". Para o acompanhamento dos idosos, foram utilizados os seguintes recursos do SUPERMED: as caixas organizadoras de medicamentos, identificadas com o horário correto de utilização, os sachês de doses unitárias e um relógio com alarme. A adesão foi avaliada através do Teste de Morisky e Green, aplicado antes e após o uso do SUPERMED. Durante todo o acompanhamento dos idosos, realizou-se o controle da pressão arterial, da glicemia pós-prandial, do índice de massa corporal e da circunferência abdominal. O projeto foi provado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo e foi solicitado aos participantes da pesquisa o seu consentimento, mediante a assinatura do Termo de Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido. Todas as análises foram conduzidas com software estatístico e com o programa Microsoft Excel ®. A média da idade dos participantes do estudo foi de 71,4 anos (DP 5,6); o predomínio foi do sexo feminino (65,6%); 18,8% eram analfabetos; a média do diagnóstico de hipertensão foi de 19,4 (DP 10,1) anos e a média de medicamentos utilizados foi de 8,0 por idoso. Além da hipertensão, 75% dos idosos apresentavam diabetes melito, 75% dislipidemia e 59,4% obesidade. Após o uso do SUPERMED, a média dos valores da pressão arterial sistólica diminuiu em 21,6 mmHg (p<0,0001) e da pressão arterial diastólica em 4,7 mmHg (p<0,0001). Os resultados do Teste de Morisky e Green mostraram uma baixa adesão dos idosos antes da implantação do SUPERMED, onde 81,2% foram considerados como \"menos aderentes\". Após a implantação do SUPERMED, 96,9% foram considerados como \"mais aderentes\" (p<0,01). O uso do SUPERMED melhorou a adesão medicamentosa e diminuiu os valores da pressão arterial, proporcionando ao idoso uma segurança e uma satisfação no que diz respeito à organização e à utilização correta de seus medicamentos / Considering that the arterial systemic hypertension has a high prevalence, low control taxes and that the risk to develop the disease increases with the aging, the objective of this study was to evaluate the adherence to the drug therapy in a group of elderly patients who have hypertension and are taken care of in a Basic Health Care Unit, in the country of São Paulo state, before and after the development and the utilization of an Electronic System of Personal and Controlled Use of Medication (SUPERMED). The study was almost experimental, prospective and comparative. 32 hypertensive elders were monitored, who used continually at least four different medications, in different periods: \"before the use of SUPERMED\", at \"the day that they started using it\" and \"after the use of SUPERMED\". To monitor the elderlies, the following SUPERMED resources were used: organizing medications boxes, identified with the suitable use time, the single dose pill packs and an alarm clock. The adherence was evaluated by the Morisky and Green Test, applied before and after the use of SUPERMED. During all the monitoring, the arterial pressure and the postprandial glycemia were controlled from the body mass index and the waist circumference. The project was approved by the Ethics Committee in Research from the College of Nursing from the University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto and approval from the research participants was asked, followed by the signing of the Statement of Consent. All the analysis was conducted with a statistics software application and the Microsoft Excel program. The elders´ average age in the study was 71.4 years old (DP 5.6); the female gender had the prevalence (65.6%); 18.8% were illiterate; the diagnosis average of hypertension was 19.4% (DP 10.1) years and the average of drugs used per elder was 8. Besides the hypertension, 75% of the elders showed diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia rate was 75% and 59.4% were obese. After the use of SUPERMED, the systolic arterial pressure values\' average decreased in 21.6 mmHg (p<0.0001) and the diastolic arterial pressure in 4.7 mmHg (p<0.0001). The Morisky and Green Test results showed a low adherence before SUPERMED was implanted, where 81.2% of the elders were considered \"less adherent\". After it was implanted, 96.9% were considered \"more adherent\" (p<0.01). The use of SUPERMED improved the medication adherence and decreased the arterial pressure values, providing the elders with safety and satisfaction about the organization and the proper use of their medications

Considerada universal, a doença de Parkinson (DP) ocupa a segunda posição entre as doenças neurodegenerativas mais comuns em idosos. A depressão é a comorbidade psiquiátrica mais comumente associada à esta doença e tem sido apontada repetidamente como a principal determinante da piora da qualidade de vida (QV) nestes pacientes como também um dos fatores que levam à pior adesão aos medicamentos propostos. Neste contexto o objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a prevalência de depressão em pacientes com DP em seguimento em um ambulatório especializado como também verificar o impacto da depressão na QV destes pacientes e na adesão ao tratamento com levodopa. O estudo foi realizado no ambulatório de distúrbios do movimento do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto - USP. Foram selecionados 112 pacientes consecutivos com diagnóstico de DP em uso de levodopa, que foram entrevistados por meio da aplicação das seguintes escalas: Escala geriátrica de depressão com 15 itens (GDS-15), Parkinson\'s disease questionnaire-39 item version (PDQ-39), teste Morisky e Green e o Instrumento para Avaliar Atitudes Frente à Tomada de Remédios (IAAFTR). Foi encontrada a prevalência de depressão de 25% (n=28) entre os pacientes e uma forte correlação entre a GDS-15 e todas as dimensões do PDQ-39, evidenciando o real impacto que a depressão causa na QV dos pacientes com DP. Dos 112 pacientes, 53% (n=59) não apresentaram adesão ao seu tratamento, sendo que 52% reportaram que são descuidados quanto ao horário de tomarem sua medicação. Não foi encontrada correlação entre a presença de sintomas depressivos e a adesão do paciente à sua terapia antiparkinsoniana. O estudo demonstrou que a depressão está associada à piora da QV em pacientes com DP, afetando todas suas dimensões, especialmente a dimensão mobilidade. Toda a equipe de saúde que cuida destes pacientes devem ser encorajados e preparados para ajudar na investigação de sintomas depressivos na DP, por ser o seu tratamento a base crucial para a melhora da QV destes pacientes. / Considered as universal, Parkinson\'s disease (PD) ranks second among the most common neurodegenerative diseases in the elderly. Depression is the most common psychiatric comorbidity associated with this disease and has been identified repeatedly as the main determinant of the worsening of quality of life (QoL) in these patients but also one of the factors that lead to poor adherence to medication proposed. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of depression in PD patients followed up in a specialized clinic and also to verify the impact of depression on the QoL of these patients and adherence to treatment with levodopa. The study was conducted in movement disorders clinic of the Hospital das Clinicas, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto - USP. We selected 112 consecutive patients diagnosed with PD in use of levodopa, who were interviewed by the application of the following scales: Geriatric Depression Scale with 15 items (GDS-15), Parkinson\'s disease questionnaire-39 item version (PDQ-39), Morisky and Green test and Instrument to Measure Attitudes Toward Taking Medications (IAAFTR). A prevalence of depression of 25% (n = 28) and a strong correlation was found between the GDS-15 and all dimensions of the PDQ-39, showing the real impact that depression causes the QoL of patients with PD. Of the 112 patients, 53% (n = 59) showed no adherence to their treatment, and 52% reported that they are careless as to the time to take your medication. No correlation was found between presence of depressive symptoms and patient adherence to their therapy. The study showed that depression is associated with decreased quality of life in patients with PD, affecting all its dimensions, especially the mobility dimension. Health team that takes care of these patients should be encouraged and prepared to assist in the investigation of depressive symptoms in PD, its treatment to be the crucial basis for the improvement of QoL of these patients

The type 2 diabetes (T2DM) epidemic is a global health issue that is especially severe among Pacific Islanders in the United States (U.S.) and U.S. Associated Pacific Islands (USAPI) including Chuukese living in their homeland of Chuuk and the state of Hawaii. Although there are diabetes prevention and management programs in Hawai'i and the Pacific, success is limited due in part to the lack of tailoring for the Pacific audience. In spite of numerous recommendations to incorporate Pacific cultural constructs into health interventions, there are no studies in Chuuk or the Pacific that examine the integration of cultural constructs into diabetes prevention and management. To address this research need, the four studies in this dissertation used Grounded Theory and Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) processes to explore the relationships between constructs such as culture, religion, family, and diabetes prevention and control. The aims were to obtain perspectives on diabetes prevention, screening and management (Study1) and identify socio-cultural influences that hinder or facilitate adherence to diabetes prevention and management behaviors specifically adherence to nutrition therapy (Study 2), physical activity (Study 3) and prescription medication (Study 4). Data where gathered through key informant interviews (faith leaders and health care providers) and focus group discussions (individual with diabetes and care takers). Results from Study 1 showed that participants perceived T2DM as a major problem and the discussion followed four significant narratives: (1) the need for specific information on "how to" operationalize diabetes treatment recommendations; (2) the practice of seeking medical help only when in pain; (3) the role spirituality plays in etiology disease beliefs and its influence on help-seeking behaviors; and (4) the role emotions play in treatment compliance. Study 2 revealed barriers to nutrition therapy adherence that were similar to other minority populations in the U.S. such as cost of healthy foods, taste preference, low availability of healthy food choices, lack of ideas for healthy meals/cooking, and lack of culturally appropriate nutrition modification options. It also elucidated: (1) food consumption and preparation practices; (2) the need for culturally tailored interventions; and (3) contextually appropriate approaches to address nutrition issues, including a plan for future research and interventions. Study 3 revealed a variety of behaviors, personal factors and environmental influences related to adherence to physical activity recommendations. Although the study was focused on physical activity, participants spent the majority of their time discussing sedentary behaviors and contextually appropriate interventions. Study 4 exposed vital factors that inclined patients' to comply with prescribed medication. Factors associated with the healer (messenger), medicine/remedy, and focus of healing. Furthermore, this study revealed that many patients not only seek multiple healing types (western, traditional, local and new), they also rotate among the types. These findings were communicated through two narratives: healer characteristics and medication-specific features. Overall, the most salient topics in all the focus group and interview discussions were on diabetes as a major problem and the pervasiveness of hopelessness. Woven into these conversations were narratives on how to address these two issues with stewardships of the spirit, mind and body. This became the foundation of a framework to address the diabetes epidemic in Pacific.

Introduction: Warfarin is the most commonly prescribed drug for stroke prevention among Atrial Fibrillation (AF) patients, especially in older adult populations, but medication nonadherence reduces its effectiveness in clinical practice. Group Based Trajectory Models (GBTM) have been used to identify distinct patterns of adherence behavior related to various medications and understand the patient characteristics associated with each trajectory. The objectives of the study were: 1) Describe trajectories of warfarin adherence among Medicare AF patients, 2) Assess impact of adherence trajectories on AF-related hospitalization, 3) Estimate the AF-related direct costs for each adherence trajectory group. Methods: We identified elderly AF patients initiating warfarin treatment during 2008-2010 using data from a random sample of Medicare beneficiaries. The study’s first aim is to classify patients into different trajectory groups based on their monthly adherence patterns using a Group-Based Trajectory Model (GBTM). A multinomial regression model was used to assess associations between baseline characteristics and adherence trajectories. The second aim is to evaluate the association between adherence trajectories and time to first hospitalization related to stroke or bleeding event. Hospitalization events due to bleeding or stroke were identified using corresponding ICD-9 codes, and a Cox proportional hazard model was performed. The third aim of the study is to calculate AF-related direct medical costs associated with each trajectory group. SASv9.4 was used for analysis. Results: Among 3,246 beneficiaries who met inclusion criteria, six adherence trajectories were identified: 1) rapid-decline non-adherence group (11.5%), 2) moderate non-adherence group (24%), 3) rapid-decline then increasing adherence group (6.8%), 4) moderate-decline non-adherence group (8.2%), 5) slow-decline non-adherence group (24.3%), and 6) perfect adherence group (25.3%). Even though no statistical significances were found in the hazard of hospitalization among the adherence groups, there were higher odds of hospitalization among the lower adherence groups compared to perfect adherence group. Outpatient and monitoring costs were significantly higher in the lower adherence trajectories compared to perfect adherence group. Conclusion:The GBTM is considered an innovative methodological approach that can be applied to longitudinal medication adherence data and account for the dynamic nature of adherence behavior in a better way than traditional adherence measures.

The purpose of this project was to implement an educational program that provided psychiatric nurses with the knowledge and skills to engage patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia in self-care management regarding medication and treatment adherence. The theory employed in the project was the educational theory. Evidence of effectiveness came from a pre- and postintervention assessment of nurses' knowledge and confidence in teaching about medication, along with a pre- and postassessment of knowledge gained as a result of the educational intervention. Pre- and posteducational rates of patient rehospitalization for medication nonadherence were compared. The results indicated a 15% rate of readmission of schizophrenia patients prior to the educational sessions. The 30-day readmission rate decreased to approximately 5% after the educational sessions. Based on these results, it was concluded that the educational project intervention had a positive impact on improving knowledge and insight of the nurses about nonadherence to medication among patients with schizophrenia. The positive social impact of improving nurses' knowledge of educating schizophrenic patients are increased patient well-being and reduced social costs associated with relapse and readmission. Recommendations from this project include that nurses should educate patients with schizophrenia on how to adhere to medication directives and the importance of doing so.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus affects patients' health across the globe and is costly to manage. The chronic high blood sugar of diabetes is linked to cardiovascular and kidney damage, impaired functional status, and multiple organ failure. To lessen the complications associated with diabetes and promote self-care in those with the disease, health care professionals must be vigilant in offering diabetes education to patients with each clinic or primary care visit. Lack of diabetic educators in the clinic that provided the setting for this study indicated a need to increase clinical staff competency in teaching self-care and diabetes management to patients. The resulting project, guided by Bandura's theory of social learning, involved the creation of an educational curriculum, which was evaluated by 5 content experts with 5 or more years of experience caring for adult patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus who provided narrative feedback. The content experts indicated satisfaction with the program and offered the following recommendations: (a) implementation of staff coaching on motivational interviewing, (b) additional help in securing medications and blood glucose testing supplies for noninsured patients, (c) translation of patient tools into Spanish at a Grade 3 or 4 reading level for better patient understanding, and (d) proceeding with full implementation after the recommendations are carried out. Improved self-care among diabetes patients could promote positive social change through the prevention of acute, long-term complications and disability.

Medication nonadherence is a healthcare problem that costs the United States billions of dollars annually. The purpose of this project was to propose an evidence-based program for healthcare personnel to increase the rate of medication adherence in hypertensive Black adults who require daily, oral medication. The transtheoretical model of change was used to explain the process of change and to identify approaches to changing non-adherent behaviors related to medications. Motivational interviewing was used to explain the process that nurse-educators would use to guide patients through the stages of change. In the initial step of this quality improvement program, a convenience sample of 9 healthcare personnel were given an overview of the proposed program and asked to provide feedback on the relevance and meaningfulness of the proposed program using a program development evaluation form. Numerical data collected from the evaluation form were gathered using a 5-point Likert-type, scale. The data results were analyzed to determine the relevance and meaningfulness of the proposed program. The analyzed data were reported in frequency and percentages. Descriptive statistics were used. According to the findings, all 9 healthcare personnel supported the use of the proposed program and believed that its content was relevant and meaningful to clinical practice. The findings also revealed that 8 out of the 9 healthcare personnel believed that patients who qualified for the proposed program would be likely to participate. Adoption of this evidence-based program would facilitate social change by improving the rate of medication adherence in hypertensive Black adults and potentially improving their overall health.