The Assessment of Illness Perception and Adherence to Therapeutic Regimens among Patients with Hypertension

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Illness perception is an important predictor for adherence to therapeutic regimens. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between illness perception and adherence to therapeutic regimens in patients with hypertension. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at two teaching hospitals in Qom, Iran. A convenience sample of 140 patients was performed in this study in 2016. Data was collected using a questionnaire which included three parts: socio-demographic and clinical variables, brief illness perception questionnaire, and Hill-Bone Compliance to High Blood Pressure Therapy Scale. Descriptive and analytical analyses and linear regression analysis were performed for statistical assessment in SPSS-16. Results: The mean age of the patients was evaluated 60.4 (SD = 11.21) years and 57% of them were female; 35% of patients showed higher than mean scores in adherence to therapeutic regimens. The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that personal control and disease understanding were associated with more adherence to therapeutic regimens with β = 0.25 and 0.22, respectively. Conclusions: According to the findings, it is to strengthen patients’ illness perceptions, especially personal control and disease understanding, as an important strategy in educational interventions in order to increase adherence to treatment.