Perception of strokes in patients with noncommunicable chronic diseases Percepción del accidente cerebrovascular en pacientes con enfermedad crónica no trasmisible

Abstract

Objective: Understand the perception of strokes in patients that attend to a chronic disease consultation in a state social health-service providing company (ESE), Hospital San Antonio de Soatá. Materials and methods: Qualitative study with phenomenological approach. The selection of the 14 participants was made through the following selection criteria: being a senior citizen with a noncommunicable chronic disease (hypertension and/or diabetes); people with language and mental alterations established in their medical history were excluded. nonprobability purposive sampling was performed. The information was gathered through in-depth interviews, establishing an initial contact via telephone with the potential participants, then an in-person meeting was arranged to read and sign the consent. The interviews had a duration between 20 to 40 minutes. For the analysis of the theoretical sampling, the Colaizzi’s method was used, emerging from the nominal codes, the subcategories, and categories or central themes. Results: From the interviews, 26 nominal codes were generated to define two categories: knowledge on thrombosis and serious and mortal disease, which allowed to understand that the informants assign the term thrombosis to stroke and this way, are capable of identify the main causes, symptoms and neurological sequels of the disease. Likewise, thrombosis is a disease that generates physical dependance. Conclusions: For the participants, a stroke is a preventable disease, but it requires medical follow-up, changes of lifestyle and a permanent consumption of medication. However, economic inequalities and difficult access to health institutions complicate timely care for noncommunicable chronic diseases.