Objective

High blood pressure (HBP) is a leading major risk factor for chronic diseases and deaths. The studies revealed that hypertensive patients had inadequate knowledge about hypertension (HT) and the frequency of patients with blood pressure (BP) under control was higher among the patients with high level of knowledge about HT. The aim of this study was to search the effect of knowledge about hypertension and socio-demographic characteristics on controlling high blood pressure levels among patients diagnosed with hypertension.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study. Random cluster sampling method was used to determine sample size. The study population was obtained from subjects diagnosed with hypertension who were applied to primary health care centers in Yozgat province center between January 2013 and December 2013. The subjects with informed consent were enrolled into the study (n=485). Age, gender, height, weight, marital status, educational and economical income levels were recorded. The BP levels were measured in a sitting position at the place of interview. BP levels were classified as follows: normal: SBP<120 mmHg and DBP <80 mmHg; PreHT: SBP 120-139 mmHg and/or DBP 80-89 mmHg; HT: ≥140 mmHg and/or ≥90 mmHg. The data about HT knowledge were collected via 15-item hypertension knowledge questionnaire prepared in accordance with the literature.

The questionnaire had 15 items as follows: 3 questions about BP classification; 4 questions about HT complications, 4 questions about treatment and BP control; and 4 questions about signs and follow-up of HT. Total scores for the questionnaire about HT knowledge ranged from 0 to 15 at maximum. The knowledge level was classified as follows: low (<8 points); moderate (8-11 points); adequate (≥12 points). Statistical analyzes were carried out by the help of simple correlation tests and backward LR model of multiple variables binary logistic regression.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study. Random cluster sampling method was used to determine sample size. The study population was obtained from subjects diagnosed with hypertension who were applied to primary health care centers in Yozgat province center between January 2013 and December 2013. The subjects with informed consent were enrolled into the study (n=485). Age, gender, height, weight, marital status, educational and economical income levels were recorded. The BP levels were measured in a sitting position at the place of interview. BP levels were classified as follows: normal: SBP<120 mmHg and DBP <80 mmHg; PreHT: SBP 120-139 mmHg and/or DBP 80-89 mmHg; HT: ≥140 mmHg and/or ≥90 mmHg. The data about HT knowledge were collected via 15-item hypertension knowledge questionnaire prepared in accordance with the literature.

The questionnaire had 15 items as follows: 3 questions about BP classification; 4 questions about HT complications, 4 questions about treatment and BP control; and 4 questions about signs and follow-up of HT. Total scores for the questionnaire about HT knowledge ranged from 0 to 15 at maximum. The knowledge level was classified as follows: low (<8 points); moderate (8-11 points); adequate (≥12 points). Statistical analyzes were carried out by the help of simple correlation tests and backward LR model of multiple variables binary logistic regression.

Results

The study included 485 subjects. Frequencies of low, moderate and high level of knowledge about hypertension were 31.3%, 62.1% and 6.6% respectively. The effects of other socio-demographic parameters on the knowledge level were not significant even after multivariate analysis (Table 1). Knowledge level was positively related to ratio of subjects with blood pressure under control but not significant (p>0.05).