Adherence level and knowledge about psychopharmacological treatment among patients discharged from psychiatric internment

Elderly people with mental disorders: experiencing the use of psychotropic medicines

OBJECTIVE

To interpret the experience of the elderly with mental disorder in the use of psychotropic medicines.

METHOD

Qualitative study in the interpretative modality, supported by the Grounded Theory. It was carried out from interviews with 16 elderly people with mental disorder and six relatives, totaling 22 participants.

RESULTS

In the experience of the use of psychotropic medicines, the elderly with mental disorders become aware of their condition, attribute meaning and establish strategies for the correct use. On the other hand, they express their dissatisfaction with being dependent on psychotropic medicines to live without symptoms, face their side effects and do not always use them correctly.

CONCLUSION

The use of psychotropic medicines is a priority in the life of the elderly and, in view of the fragilities found, it is necessary a continuous monitoring of health professionals.

Validation of the Adherence Determinants Questionnaire scale among women with breast and cervical cancer

Objectives:

the aim was to translate and culturally adapt the Adherence Determinants Questionnaire scale for the Portuguese language in the Brazilian context, and to check its reliability and validity to analyze the elements of the adherence of patients to the clinical treatment for breast and cervical cancer.

Method:

this was a methodological study, carried out in two oncology reference centers. The sample consisted of 198 participants, with 152 being treated for breast cancer and 46 being treated for cervical cancer. The content validation was performed by a committee of experts. The construct validation was demonstrated through factor analysis and the reliability was analyzed using Cronbach's alpha.

Results:

the committee of experts made the necessary adjustments so that the scale was adapted to the Brazilian context. The factor analysis suggested a reduction from seven to five factors and the maintenance of 38 items similar to those of the original scale. The reliability, investigated through Cronbach's alpha, was .829, showing high internal consistency.

Conclusion:

it was concluded that the Brazilian version of the Adherence Determinants Questionnaire scale is a valid and reliable instrument that is able to measure the elements of adherence to the treatment for breast and cervical cancer.