Factors associated with poor adherence to treatment of chronic diseases in Primary Health Care

Abstract

The present article aimed to analyze the main factors associated with poor adherence to the treatment of chronic diseases in Primary Health Care. Specifically, it aimed to analyze the role of the health team in managing chronic diseases in Brazil, focusing on how their practices and strategies contribute to the comprehensive care of patients. The study was conducted through an online search with a bibliographic review of scientific reproductions from 2019 to 2024, available in articles on the Virtual Health Library (BVS), SCIELO, and LILACS using the health descriptors: treatment adherence; primary health care; and chronic diseases. The inclusion criteria adopted by this study were: the publication should be related to the proposed theme, available electronically and freely in full text, classified as an original article, published in Portuguese or English, from 2019 to 2024, and complete publications with available abstracts and indexed in the aforementioned databases. Excluded were files such as letters to the editor, guidelines, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, abstracts, studies with duplicates, or those with a different approach from the proposed theme. Factors such as the complexity of therapeutic regimens, negative perception of the effectiveness of medications, side effects, and lack of social and financial support were identified. The analysis demonstrated that difficulties in following complex treatments and the absence of visible results frequently lead to discontinuation of treatment, while the lack of support and resources exacerbates these difficulties.