Diabetic and Hypertensive Patient’s Handbook: adaptation of the Caderneta de Saúde da Pessoa Idosa for nursing assistance in Secondary Care

Abstract

Cross-sectional study with descriptive design, quantitative analytical approach, carried out in 2021, in a specialty clinic in the city of São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil, . It aimed to present an adapted version of the Carteira de Saúde da Pessoa Idosa (Health Handbook for the Elderly Person) to users with diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension in Secondary Care. Two instruments were applied: one to evaluate the treatment before the experience and the other after the experience with the handbook (collection instrument 1) and the Diabetic and Hypertensive Patient’s Handbook (collection instrument 2 adapted from the Carteira de Saúde da Pessoa Idosa). Fifty patients participated, of which 60% were women aged 51 to >60 years, 72% suffered from type II diabetes mellitus and 56% suffered from arterial hypertension. They reported that the handbook helped with treatment (94%), medication schedule, food, participation in treatment; and that they read the entire handbook (78%). In terms of association before and after, the most significant issues were: taking the medications at the established time, fitting medication schedules into daily activities, and complying with the treatment without supervision from family or friends. The adapted handbook proved to be an important instrument, especially for health education in secondary care, with a view to expanding knowledge, as well as facilitating nursing care.