Knowledge and Attitude to Self-Monitoring Of Blood Pressure in a Cardiology Clinic in Nigeria

Abstract

Background: We evaluated the knowledge and attitude to Self-monitoring of blood pressure amongst adult patients in a hospital in the Niger Delta so as redirect efforts to improve patients' knowledge and attitude to self-monitoring of blood pressure. Materials and Methods: 100 patients with essential hypertension attending the Cardiology Clinic of the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital were recruited consecutively over a two-month period (September to November 2013). Demographic data, knowledge and attitude to Self-monitoring of blood pressure were obtained using self-administered questionnaire. Simple percentages and Chi square were used to analyze data obtained. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 100 patients were studied and 54.7% of them know about self-monitoring of Blood Pressure. 88% of the patients agreed that self-monitoring of Blood Pressure is important. Civil servants were more likely to know about SMBP or think that it is important. Those with primary or no education were four times less likely to know about SMBP. Conclusion: The results of our study suggest suboptimal knowledge about Self-monitoring of Blood Pressure. It is important that clinicians and health care providers intensify efforts to improve patients' knowledge about SMBP for better hypertensive management outcome.