Enos M Rampamba1, Johanna C Meyer1, Elvera Helberg1, Brian Godman2,3,4. 1. a School of Pharmacy , Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University , Pretoria , South Africa. 2. b Division of Clinical Pharmacology , Karolinska Institute , Stockholm , Sweden. 3. c Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences , University of Strathclyde , Glasgow , United Kingdom. 4. d Health Economics Centre , Liverpool University Management School , Liverpool , United Kingdom.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There are high growing prevalence rates of hypertension in South Africa. Consequently, there is a need to assess knowledge and management among hypertensive patients receiving chronic medication from primary health care (PHC) facilities in South Africa as a basis for improving future management. This is important as South Africa seeks to improve its management of chronic diseases. METHODS: Descriptive, quantitative study amongst chronic hypertensive patients in the chronic disease programme. Patients were interviewed face-to-face by trained pharmacists using a structured questionnaire. Data analysis included descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: Half (53.7%) of the patients had uncontrolled blood pressure (BP). Less than a third of patients (27.7%) knew what hypertension is, the meaning of recorded BP numbers (4.5%), and what normal BP should be (19.9%). All patients who knew the meaning of BP numbers had formal education (p = 0.047). Only 15.6% of the 56.0% patients, who received hypertension information, received it on antihypertensive medicines specifically. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of the patients lacked hypertension specific knowledge and only half had controlled BP. Interventions to improve the control of high BP should be targeted at closing knowledge gaps as part of the current chronic treatment initiatives in South Africa to ensure the benefits of increased access to care are realized.
BACKGROUND: There are high growing prevalence rates of hypertension in South Africa. Consequently, there is a need to assess knowledge and management among hypertensivepatients receiving chronic medication from primary health care (PHC) facilities in South Africa as a basis for improving future management. This is important as South Africa seeks to improve its management of chronic diseases. METHODS: Descriptive, quantitative study amongst chronic hypertensivepatients in the chronic disease programme. Patients were interviewed face-to-face by trained pharmacists using a structured questionnaire. Data analysis included descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: Half (53.7%) of the patients had uncontrolled blood pressure (BP). Less than a third of patients (27.7%) knew what hypertension is, the meaning of recorded BP numbers (4.5%), and what normal BP should be (19.9%). All patients who knew the meaning of BP numbers had formal education (p = 0.047). Only 15.6% of the 56.0% patients, who received hypertension information, received it on antihypertensive medicines specifically. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of the patients lacked hypertension specific knowledge and only half had controlled BP. Interventions to improve the control of high BP should be targeted at closing knowledge gaps as part of the current chronic treatment initiatives in South Africa to ensure the benefits of increased access to care are realized.
Entities:
Keywords:
Chronic medication; South Africa; hypertension; knowledge; primary health care
Authors: Jyoti Rajan Sharma; Sihle E Mabhida; Bronwyn Myers; Teke Apalata; Edward Nicol; Mongi Benjeddou; Christo Muller; Rabia Johnson Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-01-29 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Brian Godman; Debashis Basu; Yogan Pillay; Julius C Mwita; Godfrey Mutashambara Rwegerera; Bene D Anand Paramadhas; Celda Tiroyakgosi; Patrick Mbah Okwen; Loveline Lum Niba; Justice Nonvignon; Israel Sefah; Margaret Oluka; Anastasia N Guantai; Dan Kibuule; Francis Kalemeera; Mwangana Mubita; Joseph Fadare; Olayinka O Ogunleye; Larry A Distiller; Enos M Rampamba; Jeffrey Wing; Debjani Mueller; Abubakr Alfadl; Adefolarin A Amu; Zinhle Matsebula; Aubrey Kalungia; Trust Zaranyika; Nyasha Masuka; Janney Wale; Ruaraidh Hill; Amanj Kurdi; Angela Timoney; Stephen Campbell; Johanna C Meyer Journal: Front Pharmacol Date: 2020-03-20 Impact factor: 5.810