Factors affecting treatment compliance of patients on antihypertensive therapy at National Guard Health Affairs (NGHA) Dammam Primary Health Care Clinics (PHCC)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Hypertension, a noteworthy hazard for stroke and coronary illness, is one of the most significant preventable causes of premature morbidity and mortality in developed and developing nations. Adherence to antihypertensive medications and lifestyle alterations can greatly affect the control of hypertension. This study investigated factors that impact on treatment compliance of patients on antihypertensive therapy at the National Guard-Health Affairs (NGHA) Primary Health-Care Clinics (PHCC), Dammam, Saudi Arabia, taking into account the Health Belief Model (HBM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the NGHA PHCC, Dammam. A total of 402 individuals were included in the study through convenience sampling method. Data were gathered by structured self-administered questionnaire. Data were entered into the computer and analyzed using SPSS software. The data were summarized using frequencies and percentages. The Chi-square test was used to compare ratios, and a Pearson's correlation analysis of HBM variables was carried out; all tests were performed at 0.05 significance level. RESULTS: The proportion of treatment-compliant participants in this study was 39.6%, and the participants' 'mean age was 54.09 (SD±10.703) years. About 59% females were compliant to the treatment regimen as against 19.7% of males. A total of 33.5% of the married participants were compliant, as against 16.7% of the single participants who were compliant. Unemployed patients (72.3%) were more compliant than the employed participants. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The study showed that the compliance of most hypertensive patients with antihypertensive therapy was poor. Based on the HBM, all predictors including perceived severity, perceived susceptibility, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, and cues to action were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Therefore, the provision of health education by health-care providers to patients could have a substantial positive impact on patient compliance.