dc.contributor.author | Karimi, PN | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2013-05-23T12:01:02Z | |
dc.date.available | 2013-05-23T12:01:02Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2008 | |
dc.identifier.citation | Postgraduate diploma in biomedical research methodology | en |
dc.identifier.uri | http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke:8080/xmlui/handle/11295/24862 | |
dc.description.abstract | Hypertension is a common cause of morbidity and mortality. It is a chronic disease and
hence requires long-term management. Inadequate control leads to complications that
may be fatal if not treated. 5-10 % of the general population is hypertensive.
Unfortunately, most victims are not aware of their status and diagnosis is usually
accidental especially after complications have set in.
Objective
The overall objective of this study was to assess patient's knowledge on proper
management of hypertension and the types of antihypertensive drugs used at KNH.
Aspects covered included types of drugs used, lifestyle issues such as salt intake,
exercise, weight loss, use of alcohol and smoking status.
Methods
The study was conducted at KNH in the department of internal medicine. A cross
sectional study design was used and the target population was hypertensive patients.
Data was collected using a questionnaire that was filled after interviewing the patients
and looking at their hospital records. Fifty patients were selected using systematic
random sampling. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency
distribution tables, charts and graphs. Statistical techniques used included percentages,
figures and mean, standard deviation and confidence intervals. Relationship between
variables was evaluated using chi-square.
Results
All the patients were adults with a mean age of 56.16 years and majority were females
(76%). Majority of the respondents were overweight with a mean body mass index of
27.9Kg/m2
• Minority (12.2%) had no formal education and majority (53.2%) was not
aware of the normal blood pressure reading. Most patients were unaware of the fact that
hypertension can cause complications such as heart failure ( 56%), kidney damage
(64%), visual damage (60%) and disturbance of circulation to lower limbs (70%). On
average, patients were aware of four out of six non pharmacological measures in the
management of hypertension had mixed. All the respondents were either on two (28%),
11
three (50%) or four (22%) antihypertensive drugs. The drugs that were mainly
prescribed included Hydrochlorthiazide (58%), Losartan (38%), Amlodipine (34%),
Nifedipine (32%), Enalapril (30%) and Atenolol (30%). The association between
education level and awareness of complications was statistically significant but that
between education level and awareness of non pharmacological management had mixed
results.
Conclusion
A significant proportion of the respondents were not aware of complications and non
pharmacological measures of managing hypertension. Antihypertensive drugs were not
rationally prescribed.
Recommendation
Patient education regarding non-pharmacological methods of management and
awareness of complications of hypertension should be intensified and rational
prescribing should be practiced at KNH. | en |
dc.description.sponsorship | University of Nairobi | en |
dc.language.iso | en | en |
dc.title | Assessment of drug utilisation and patient knowledge on management of hypertension | en |
dc.type | Thesis | en |
dc.description.department | a
Department of Psychiatry, University of Nairobi, ; bDepartment of Mental Health, School of Medicine,
Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya | |