SOCIAL MEDIA AND MOBILE APPLICATIONS: FACILITATING OF LIFESTYLE CHANGE AND ADHERENCE TO TREATMENT OF HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS IN PRIMARY HEALTHCARE

Introduction and Objective: Poor adherence has been identified as the main cause of failure to control hypertension. Despite the knowledge about the risks and disabling that can result from disease, patients often do not adhere to prescribed therapy. The objective of this review was to identify studies that used social media and Internet based interventions to promote information of self-care in hypertensive patients. METHOD: Literature review was conducted in databases: PubMed/Medline, Lilacs, and Scielo considering articles published between 2005 and 2015. Descriptors MeSH: “hypertension” and “social media” and “hypertension”. Results and conclusion: In this study, eight papers identified following topics: technology mobile (mHealth); development the management instrument; Facebook groups; YouTube videos; source of information, quality of information in sites; and incorporation the technology advances in community hypertension programs. These systems used for improving education and social support shown are effective. Despite the use of social media sites for hypertension-related, information and communication are limited. Still the credibility of the source of information should be reliable. The professional-patient relationship is important factor for adherence and maintaining the patient's motivation for treatment. Social media and other web-based technologies are characterized to be extensive popular penetration and low cost communication tools. The adoption in the practice as tools for education for self-care in primary healthcare, within the realities of health systems is quite possible. Future research is needed to overcome barriers of primary health sector.