Abstract

SOUSA, Maria Rui Grilo; LANDEIRO, Maria José Lumini; PIRES, Regina  and  SANTOS, Célia. Coping and adherence to therapeutic regimen. Rev. Enf. Ref. [online]. 2011, vol.serIII, n.4, pp.151-160. ISSN 0874-0283.

Currently chronic diseases have a large impact on global health representing, in developed and developing countries, a considerable economic burden on health services and constituting an enormous challenge for healthcare professionals when identifying new strategies for action. Considering the chronic illness as a stressor event, how it is perceived by the person (depending on your illness representations) and the strategies they adopt to face the new situation of health, influencing the behavior of adherence and consequently the control of disease, which might reflect on their well-being and quality of life. From the perspective of meeting the needs of further studies in this area, the present work aims at conducting a literature review on the subject, allowing a thorough analysis and reflection on the problem of chronic disease, the effect of stress on the same, and the influence of coping strategies on adherence. Studies suggest that coping strategies of the confrontational type, predominantly focused on the problem, promote adherence to therapeutic regimens. Some socio-demographic variables can interfere with the coping process and thus with compliance behaviors.

Keywords : coping; therapeutic adherence; chronic disease; adaptation.

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