Respuesta emocional y cognitiva como fases del duelo ante el diagnóstico crónico en la adherencia al tratamiento en pacientes hipertensos.

Abstract

Hypertension is a chronic disease that requires emotional adaptation, understanding of the diagnosis, and active patient participation to maintain adequate therapeutic adherence. Objective: To analyze the emotional and cognitive response as phases of grief in the face of a chronic diagnosis and its impact on treatment adherence in hypertensive patients at the Teodoro Maldonado Carbo Hospital. Methodology: A quantitative, descriptive, prospective, and cross-sectional study was conducted with a population of 150 patients with hypertension. A structured questionnaire using a Likert scale was administered, considering the dimensions of denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Treatment adherence was assessed through therapeutic compliance, medical follow-up, and self-care. Data were processed using descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages. Results: Low levels of denial, anger, and depression predominated, while bargaining was primarily moderate, and acceptance was high. Regarding adherence, favorable results were observed in therapeutic compliance and medical follow-up. Self-care also showed positive behavior. However, physical activity was the component with the greatest difficulties. Conclusions: Patients showed predominantly favorable emotional and cognitive adaptation to the diagnosis of hypertension. This high level of acceptance was accompanied by improved behaviors related to treatment adherence, medical follow-up, and self-care. The findings highlight the importance of integrating emotional assessment, health education, and nursing support to strengthen adaptation to the illness and maintain favorable therapeutic adherence behaviors.