Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Hypertension among Adult Hypertensive Patients at a Rural Clinic of Coastal Karnataka

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To study the knowledge, attitude and practice about hypertension in adult hypertensivepatients at a rural clinic of Coastal Karnataka METHODOLOGY: A study was conducted on five hundred diagnosed hypertensive patients during a one year period in 2013. Patients were questioned by authorized doctors and assessed for various lifestyle and risk factors. A semi-structured pre-tested questionnaire was used to assess socio demographic variables and knowledge, attitude, practices regarding hypertension. Results were analysed using SPSS version 15. RESULTS: The age of patients ranged from 18 years to 75 years with mean age of 45.5 yearsand median age of 46.5 years. Thirty fourpercent patients belonged to grade 1 education grade,forty sixpercent belonged to grade 2, twelvepercent belonged to grade 3, and eightpercentbelonged to grade 4. 13.4% patients can explain the hypertension, mostly in higher educationgrade. 75.6 % patients said that salt is not good for hypertension. 50% patients had good compliance about the drugs. 64.6% said good controlis advantageous for health. 10% have knowledge about complications. CONCLUSION: Our study concludes that a significant proportion of hypertensive patient's haveinsufficient knowledge about hypertension.