Meanings and reflections upon being a hypertensive patient

Abstract

This study aims to understand what hypertensive patients that participate on educational meetings promoted by the Family Health Program (FHP) think about their illness. It is a qualitative and descriptive study guided by dialectic materialism. A semi-structuralized interview was used as data collection tool. The subjects were eight hypertensive patients chosen among those who were enrolled in the FHP. Men and women from four different groups of ages were considered. Data analysis was performed by using discourse analysis technique. Results show what hypertension means to the interviewed patients in terms of illness symptoms, causes, treatment options and prognosis. Patients see the disease as something negative once its chronic condition may cause losses in social life, in leisure and in pleasant activities. On the other hand, these losses may lead to dejection, sadness, depression and frustration which may complicate adaptation to new life styles. The methodology used in the educational meetings had little emancipatory potential and was strongly centered in curative attention, as well as in conduct complaints services. We conclude that we need to think over the meaning of hypertension to the patients in order to subsidize the development of educational actions.