Monitoring the Knowledge of Patients and Physicians Regarding Treatment of Hypelipoproteinaemias

Overview

Introduction:
Pharmacotherapy of hyperlipoproteinaemias is one of the most important steps in preventive cardiology and supplements effectively dietary and lifestyle provisions. To achieve successful compensation of hyperlipoproteinaemias above all compliance of the patients is necessary.Objective: To assess the knowledge and compliance of patients, the physician’s system of work as a criterion of treatment of patients with hyperlipoproteinaemias.Respondents and methods: The authors made a pilot study using questionnaires. The investigation was made in 1997 in a pharmacy in the centre of Prague and in 1999 in a policlinical pharmacy in one of the Prague settlements. The knowledge was tested by means of questionnaires.Results: The results obtained from 142 respondents among patients indicate that in treatment in particular the general practitioner and specialist in internal medicine participate. Treatment is as a rule started by a dietary regime or a combination of diet and drugs. Patients are frequently made familiar how to use the drugs, they know the principles of dietary provisions and are completely or partly informed on the results of their biochemical tests. Doctors (18 respondents) make prescriptions of hypolipidaemic agents according to biochemical values or also take into account cardiovascular disease. Check-up examinations are regular, every 3 to 6 months.Conclusion: Among the patients shortcomings were revealed in the dietary sphere, the other investigated parameters are encouraging, the physicians did not deviate markedly from standards as regards treatment. The authors proved also that, due to less formal relations, the pharmacy is a suitable place for analyses of the patient’s ideas on their therapy.

Key words:
hyperlipoproteinaemias - treatment - monitoring - compliance