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Learning Objective 1: The learner will be able to identify the adherence behavior, the perceived benefits and barriers to the use of diuretics.
Learning Objective 2: The learner will be able to identify the influence of the adherence and benefits regarding the use of diuretics and sociodemographic and clinical variables.
Methods: The study included 105 subjects with Heart Failure (HF) diagnosed by a physician and the following instruments were applied: sociodemographic and clinical characterization, Morisky Medication Adherence Scale, Measure of Medication Adherence and Beliefs about Medication Compliance Scale (BMCS). We performed logistic regression to determine the influence of sociodemographic and clinical variables on adherence and health belief scales.
Results: The average Morisky Medication Adherence Scale was 6.0(1.9), 64.8% of the patients used 80.0% or more of the perscribed diuretic, however 64.8% were non-adherent with respect to dose to dose and/or adequate care to the prescription. The average subscales Benefits and Barriers were 20.1(3.7) and 17.0(5.0), respectively. The analysis showed that men had higher chances of adherence (OR=2.6, HF95% 1.0-6.7, p=0.04); the increasing numbers of symptoms improves the chance of adherence (OR=1,8, HF95% 0.2-0.9, p=0.00), showing that there are main factors for adherence.
Conclusion: The findings of this study point to the need of an educational approach, considering the many aspects relating to adherence to diuretic therapy for HF patients.