OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of short education session on drug compliance on hypertensive patients visiting primary healthcare centres. METHODS: The interventional study was conducted from January to May, 2017, at 10 primary healthcare centres that were selected through multi-stage random sampling from those functioning under the Baghdad/Al-Rusafa Health Directorate, Baghdad, Iraq. Those included were patients aged 20-79 years diagnosed with hypertension with a history of at least one year. The subjects were divided into two intervention, and control groups. After baseline interviews regarding compliance with medical treatment. In each visit, 3-4 patients were selected, and were exposed to the education session about the risks of untreated hypertension, and they were given an appointment for one month later to measure their compliance rate. In the control group, the compliance rate was measured twice within a month. Data was analysed using SPSS 24. RESULTS: Of the 600 subjects, there were 300(50%) in each of the two groups. The compliance rate increased significantly within the intervention group (p=0.0001) and also in comparison with the controls (p=0.0001). Apart from medicines per day, all other factors showed non-significant association with compliance rate. CONCLUSIONS: The health education session caused significant improvement in the rate of compliance with drug regimen in hypertensive patients.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of short education session on drug compliance on hypertensive patients visiting primary healthcare centres. METHODS: The interventional study was conducted from January to May, 2017, at 10 primary healthcare centres that were selected through multi-stage random sampling from those functioning under the Baghdad/Al-Rusafa Health Directorate, Baghdad, Iraq. Those included were patients aged 20-79 years diagnosed with hypertension with a history of at least one year. The subjects were divided into two intervention, and control groups. After baseline interviews regarding compliance with medical treatment. In each visit, 3-4 patients were selected, and were exposed to the education session about the risks of untreated hypertension, and they were given an appointment for one month later to measure their compliance rate. In the control group, the compliance rate was measured twice within a month. Data was analysed using SPSS 24. RESULTS: Of the 600 subjects, there were 300(50%) in each of the two groups. The compliance rate increased significantly within the intervention group (p=0.0001) and also in comparison with the controls (p=0.0001). Apart from medicines per day, all other factors showed non-significant association with compliance rate. CONCLUSIONS: The health education session caused significant improvement in the rate of compliance with drug regimen in hypertensive patients.