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Título del libro: Chronic Diseases And Medication Adherence Behaviors: Psychological Research In Ibero-American Countries
Título del capítulo: Paradoxes in health services: Arterial reactivity to medical consultation in normotensive persons

Autores UNAM:
ROSA PATRICIA JOVITA ORTEGA ANDEANE;
Autores externos:

Idioma:
Inglés
Año de publicación:
2012
Palabras clave:

Blood-pressure; Cardiovascular disease; Hospital; Stress; White-coat


Resumen:

The aim of the present study was to examine some psychological factors involved in predisposing (pre-morbid) individuals to reactive (white coat) hypertension. The reactivity of normotensive participants was analyzed in a medical setting in relation to such psychological factors as: risk antecedents and behavioral factors (through a guided interview), perceived stressors related to home, work, life and hospital settings (open interview), and attitude toward medical services (semantic differential). Additional data included anxiety (BAI), and Quality of life (WHO-QoL, brief). Participants included 105 accompanying persons of patients using public health services in hospital waiting rooms. Reactivity was determined by blood pressure differences from waiting room to a doctor's office in a simulated situation. Reactive individuals were later exposed to an autogenic training condition aimed at decreasing blood pressure at the doctor's office. Using a randomized comparison, results showed that a critical attitude toward health services, physical self-awareness of blood pressure changes, and a family history of hypertension are much more frequent among reactive participants. Although most participants benefitted from the intervention, a few showed blood pressure increases. Results are discussed regarding implications to the development of white coat hypertension, some characteristics of the population and public health services in Mexico. Recommendations to health services, psychological professionals and potential users are provided. © 2012 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.


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