Key result
Hypertensive patients show moderate-to-high disease knowledge in ~66% of cases alongside modest adherence rates.
Why the study?
Lack of knowledge and awareness regarding hypertension and poor medication adherence are major challenges to controlling blood pressure and preventing complications.
Cross-Sectional (n=153)
No
Despite adequate general knowledge of hypertension risk factors, patients lacked awareness of their specific disease status and blood pressure values, highlighting the need for individualized patient education to improve medication adherence.
May support individualized hypertension education; leaves open whether knowledge improves adherence without prospective trials.
INTRODUCTION: Hypertension is one of the common non-communicable diseases and public health problem among developed and developing countries. The lack of knowledge and awareness on hypertension and poor adherence of medication are a major challenge to control hypertension and prevent its complications. Our study aimed to assess the knowledge, awareness of hypertension and adherence to medication among hypertensive patients attending the medical clinics of a tertiary care center, Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among hypertensive patients to assess knowledge, awareness of hypertension and adherence to medication in medical clinics in a tertiary care for 6 months duration. Data were collected by using pretested and validated Hypertension Facts Questionnaire. Their medication adherence and the reasons for nonadherence were studied using Medication Adherence Scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS (version 18) analytical package and the chi-square test was performed. The scoring system was used to categorize the level of knowledge and awareness of hypertension among patients. RESULTS: The majority of patients had moderate-to-high knowledge (101, 65.8%) about hypertension and had moderate-to-high awareness (111, 73.2%) on hypertension. Even though, 134 (87.6%) patients knew that they have hypertension, and 108 (70.6%) patients did not know their blood pressure value at the time of diagnosis. Most of the patients (90, 58.8%) had good drug adherence, and most of them (141, 92.1%) thought that taking medicine plays a key role to control their blood pressure. The main reasons for nonadherence of medication were forgetfulness (39, 32%) and expenses (46, 35.4%). The knowledge and awareness about hypertension among respondents were significantly associated with educational level (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Most of the patients had adequate knowledge on the risk factors and complications of hypertension. But they were unaware about their disease status, and their diagnosis, target organ damage and recent blood pressure values. The drug adherence was reasonably adequate. The main reasons for nonadherence of medication were forgetfulness and expenses.
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Pirasath et al. (2021) conducted a cross-sectional in Hypertension (n=153). Knowledge, awareness, and adherence to medication was evaluated on Proportion of patients with moderate-to-high knowledge about hypertension. Among hypertensive patients, 65.8% had moderate-to-high knowledge and 73.2% had moderate-to-high awareness of hypertension, while 58.8% demonstrated good medication adherence.
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