Adherence, physical limitation and social participation in leprosy patients in a high-complexity hospital

Background: Therapies and procedures to improve the quality of life of patients and adherence to treatment is a concern for the health systems and for health professionals. More studies related to preventive and therapeutic education, using educational technologies for health purposes are needed. Objectives: To demonstrate the educational instruments developed by the researcher, as animated videos and posts, as well as the pharmacotherapeutic monitoring of pharmaceutical care, increase the adherence to the treatment of patients diagnosed with leprosy in a high-complexity hospital. Methods: This is a longitudinal study, using quantitative and qualitative assessment tests to assess adherence to treatment and general knowledge about the disease and quality of life. From the data, educational materials were produced and tested on patients. Then, the impact of follow-up and instructional materials on treatment adherence was evaluated. Results: Treatment adherence increases after the intervention of pharmaceutical care and health education, as per the Morisky-Green treatment test. The methodology was more effective in male patients with low education than in women, who already had high adherence. In addition, it was possible to identify that the Morisky-Green and Haynes-Sackett adhesion tests, used in the work, completely differed in their results, they occur to reflect the use of such tools in research in the area. Conclusion: It is possible to increase patient treatment adherence through health education programs and pharmaceutical care.