Abstract P634: The Influence Of Virtual Learning Environment On Therapy Adherence And On The White Coat Effect

Systemic arterial hypertension is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and has become a common public health problem. Health education associated with educational technology may be used to encourage patients’ adherence to treatment and enable them to adequately understand how harmful hypertension can be to health, thereby promoting their quality of life. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of a strategy in an individual orientation program using educational technology associated with virtual learning environment (VLE) of hypertension care on the reduction in the white coat effect and the improvement in blood pressure control to be promoted by a nurse in a hypertension unit in a government state hospital in Sao Paulo. METHODS AND MATERIALS:This was a randomized clinical education study conducted with two groups, the VLE group (study group, 10 patients) and the control group (16 patients). Both groups were interviewed 6 times by nurses during the 120-day follow-up at 20-day intervals. At baseline (randomization) and at the end of the study, the patients took Spielberg’s State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Morisky test, and the WHOQOL, a quality of life instrument, and had their blood pressure taken (ambulatory blood pressure monitoring [ABPM]). Both groups had their blood pressure, weight, and abdominal circumference measured. Only the study group had remote access to the VLE. This consisted of 6 specific educational modules, each released according to the encounter number. RESULTS: At baseline, there were no statistical differences between the two groups with respect to the sociodemographic and hemodynamic variables. At the end of the study, there was a significant statistical difference between the groups on the Morisky test (p=0.001) and on the WHOQOL with respect to domain 3 social (p=0.001). There was no statistical difference with respect to the white coat effect between the groups. Nor was there any statistical difference between the groups with respect to the association of the anxiety degree measured by STAI and the white coat effect.CONCLUSION: In light of the results, our strategy improved the quality of life in the social domain and changed the adherence behavior of the study group in relation to the forgetfulness of medication schedules.