Conocimientos y creencias sobre la hipertensión arterial presentes en usuarios de servicios de salud

Abstract

Introduction: According to the Fealth Beliefs Model, the knowledge
and beliefs about Hypertension, would lead to the adoption Di
healthy behaviours that could reduce the risk of suffering it.
Objectives: Id identify the level of knowledge about Hypertension,
and to explore the beliefs about the causes, risk factors and
treatments related to the disease. Method: Non-experimental,
trans-sectional and descriptive research. Convenient sample
consisting of 87 Fealth Service' s users from Cali, Colombia, who
where asked about their knowledge about Hypertension and its
risk factors, and their beliefs about the causes, healthy behaviours
and treatment of the disease. Results: There is little knowledge
about Hypertension and its consequences among the sample, and
mistaken beliefs related to the disease as inevitable face with the
ageing and the in vulnerability of young people. Conclusions: The
wrong information constitute one of the main obstacles for people
to adopt healthy behaviours. The mistaken beliefs would interfere
with the change of attitudes and behaviours related to health,
disease and adherence lo treatment. Therefore, there is a need
for considering psycho-educative programs consisting of strategies
and methodologies that promote healthy behaviours and strengthen
the personal responsibility in the treatment.