Effectiveness of tailored intervention with a salutogenic approach to improve adherence in adults with hypertension: a non-randomized trial

Abstract

Abstract Aims Hypertension (HTN) is a chronic long-term, slowly progressing disease. For HTN control, management, and prevention of associated complications, adequate adherence to treatment is required. It has been proposed that tailored interventions to individual needs are required to address the phenomenon of adherence to treatment. However, studies evaluating the effects of tailored interventions to improve adherence are still scarce. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a tailored intervention using a salutogenic approach, to improve adherence in patients with HTN. Methods and results A non-randomized trial design was used in this study. Adult patients with HTN were allocated in two groups: tailored intervention (n = 75) and standard care (n = 78). The content of the tailored intervention was based on personal resources and elaboration of an action plan with objectives in agreement with the patients. Patient outcomes (treatment adherence, blood pressure) were assessed both at the beginning of the study and at the 4-week follow-up for the intervention group and the standard care group. The Treatment Adherence Questionnaire for Patients with Hypertension was used to measure adherence. The results of this study showed that the total score and each dimension of the adherence questionnaire (medications, diet, physical activity, weight control, stimulation, and stress relief) increased significantly in the experimental group compared with the control group (P < 0.05). For the group assigned to tailored intervention, the delta score of the total adherence score increased in the final evaluation to 9.4 (95% CI = 8.60–10.28). Conclusion A tailored intervention with a salutogenic approach appears to be effective for improving adherence in patients with HTN. Randomized controlled trials are required to confirm the effect of tailored interventions in this type of population.