How to increase compliance in hypertensive patients?

Abstract

To analyze the quality and perception of recommendations received by hypertensive patients during the visit to the clinic. Design and methods. We included 270 hypertensive patients (146 women, 124 men) who filled in the questionnaire after visiting their local physician. Results. On admission, patients received recommendations mostly in oral form (51 % males and 42 % females), 19% males and 27 % females got written prescriptions. 30 % of men and 31 % of women were informed both orally and in writing. According to the results of the survey 46 % of patients admitted that the recommendations are complete including the information about doses, quantity of antihypertensive drugs, and duration of treatment. However, more than half of patients (54 %) got only partial recommendations or were not informed at all, that can negatively impact the compliance to treatment. All patients evaluated recommendations by a special 5-level scale from «everything is clear» (5) to «nothing is clear» (1). Patients who got recommendations in combined form (both oral and written) demonstrated the highest level of compliance: 23 % of men and 27 % of women. Conclusions. Our study showed that to improve patients' adherence to treatment, the physician should correctly assess the goals of therapy and be persistent in achieving them. Prolonged motivation for treatment can be achieved only with an integrated approach, which includes education and training of both patients and their family members.