Levels of Knowledge of Patients Aged 40 and Older Diagnosed with Hypertension Admitted to Internal Medicine Outpatient Polyclinic of a State Hospital about Their Treatment and Adherence to Their Medications

Abstract

Aim: This study was conducted to determine the levels of knowledge of patients aged 40 and older diagnosed with hypertension admitted to internal medicine outpatient polyclinic of a state hospital about their treatments and adherence to their medications.
Method: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 100 patients aged 40 and older diagnosed with hypertension. A structured questionnaire and the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale were used for the collection of data. Data was analysed in a computer environment with SPSS 18.0 software package by using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test and correlation analysis.
Result: According to the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale, it was observed that the levels of medication adherence of hypertensive patients were 54% (high), 30% (moderate) and 16% (low), respectively. It was found out that there was a statistically significant positive correlation between disease duration, regular drug use, family history of hypertension and medication adherence (p˂0.05). It was found out that there was a statistically significant negative correlation between complications, concomitant use of alternative medicines with medications and medication adherence (p˂0.05).
Conclusion: The level of patients' medication adherence was found to be moderate to low at the rate of 46%. It has been planned that patients should be given training on drug use and hypertension by health-care personnel and that patients should be monitored at regular intervals.