Effects of Instruction and Self-Monitoring on Adherence to Treatment of Juvenile Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

• Main Authors: Flávia Pinho Almeida, Eleonora Arnaud Pereira Ferreira, Ana Julia Pantoja de Moraes
• Format: Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Psicologia
• Series: Trends in Psychology
• Subjects: Lupus; adhesión al tratamiento; manual; instrucción; automonitorización
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2358-18832019000100173&lng=en&tlng=en

Abstract This research evaluated the combined effects of instructions (through health education manual) and self-monitoring (using record forms) in occurrence of adherence to treatment by adolescents diagnosed with Juvenile Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Four adolescents participated in the research, which had four stages: 1. Initial assessment; 2. Intervention, including Condition 1, with exposure to the manual followed by the self-monitoring record forms, and Condition 2, with a reversal order of these instruments; 3. Feedback; and 4. Follow-up. The data obtained with 24h recall and self-monitoring record forms were quantified, allowing the calculation of the Treatment Adherence Index. Three participants showed an increase in this index after the use of self-monitoring records, regardless the exposition order of the instruments. The results of this research suggest that self-monitoring can assist in the installation of adherence behaviors, while manuals with instructions can help to maintain those behaviors, which would justify the combined use of these instruments.