Effectiveness of health education on medication adherence and factors associated with medication adherence among hypertensive patients attending medical clinic of a tertiary level hospital of western Nepal.

Abstract

Background: Being highest in morbidity and mortality rates hypertension is an overwhelming challenge worldwide. Compliance to medication therapy is often overlooked aspect of patient care with chronic illness which should be evaluated as a integral part of management. Health education is vital to increasing level of medication adherence and preventing poor adherence to anti hypertensive therapy which is usually associated with bad outcome of the disease and wastage of limited health care resources. Objectives: The study aimed to determine effectiveness of health education on medication adherence among hypertensive patients attending medical clinic of tertiary level hospital of western Nepal and factors associated with medication adherence. Methods: A pre-test post-test only study design was conducted in Lumbini Provincial Hospital. A total of 110 samples were taken through hospital random sampling method. Two educational session of 15 days interval was given. Validated (Modifred Morisky Medication Adherence Scale MMAS-8) and self structured questionnaire for other socio demographic variables was used to collect data. Results: Regarding medication adherence, in the low adherence group the number change from 35(31.8%) to l1(10.0%) to 2 persons (1.8%) from pre-test to post-testl to post-test2 respectively. In the high adherence group the number change fiom 49(44.5%) to 61(55.5%) to 77 (70.0%) respectively. Most persons change from low to moderate and from moderate to high adherent. While comparing the score in thtee measurements, mean difference from pre-test to post-testl was 0.77 and from post-testl to post-test2 was 0.49. Both differences are statistically significant (p<0.001). Medication adherence is associated with socio-demographic variables like age, level of education and area of residence. Physician counseling on medications and complication of hypertension, financial support for drugs and present blood pressure status. Conclusion: Clinical based health education intervention increase level of medication adherence among hypertensive patients. The most prominent change in medication adherence score is after the first health education session, but it improves further after the second health education session. Kelrvordsr Hyperlension, Inlemention, Health education, Medication adherence, Modified Morhky Medication Adherence Scale.