Theoretical Analysis of the Role of Psychological Factors of Adherence to Treatment in Patients With Hypertension

The theoretical review presents current data on the problem of adherence to treatment in patients with hypertension. Increase in patient adherence to treatment is an urgent task both in medicine and in medical psychology. The aim was the analysis of domestic and foreign scientific studies of various aspects of adherence to treatment; consideration of the main concepts and methods of studying adherence to treatment of patients with essential hypertension; evaluation of the importance of psychological factors of adherence to therapy and of their impact on the effectiveness of treatment of these patients. A total of 157 literature sources were found, from which 30 publications were selected for subsequent analysis. The scientific and practical significance of the obtained results of the theoretical review is that they complement the phenomenological basis of adherence to therapy. In addition, up to date there is no unambiguous understanding of the role of the leading factors influencing patients’ compliance with doctor’s recommendations. Of special attention are methods of increasing patients’ motivation to follow doctor’s recommendations using various psychotherapeutic methods such as compliance therapy and motivational interviewing. Today, the problem of adherence to treatment is extremely important. A comprehensive psychological study of the patient’s ideas about his disease and forms of emotional response to it, the characteristics of his perception of the ‘doctor-patient’ communication system and various psychological components of adherence are necessary.