Abstract

SOARES, Marina Mendes et al. Superstitious behaviors and behavior practices inappropriate in hypertension treatment. Psic., Saúde & Doenças [online]. 2014, vol.15, n.2, pp.524-537. ISSN 1645-0086.

The adoption of behavior practices contrary to the medical recommendations collaborates to hypertensive patients do not maintain the arterial pressure controlled. To identify superstitious behaviors and behavior practices that interfere in the arterial pressure control, a qualitative study took place when 15 hypertensive elderly patients were interviewed; all of them are residents in a district of Governador Valadares. For treatment of the data, Bardin’s Content Analysis was used. The superstitious behaviors and inadequate behavior practices carried out to reduce the arterial pressure were grouped as: Adoption of Alternative Therapies (home-made teas use); Self-control (they escape or avoid stress situations); Adoption of inconsistent diets (they do not eat certain foods); Restriction on Activities (they avoid physical activities). Many superstitious behaviors of those elderly patients are erroneously considered appropriate for health professionals, reinforcing their emission. At the end it is conclude that the use of non-indicated treatments is disseminated thoroughly among the interviewees, strategies should be prioritized to motivate hypertensive patients to adopt appropriate behaviors.

Keywords : Superstitious behavior; adhesion to treatment; hypertension; arterial pressure control.

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