Evaluation of disease knowledge and attitude with selected self-care and sociodemographic factors among outpatients with hypertension – a multicenter study

Background: There are lots of interplays between many patient-related factors which may influence disease progression among patients with hypertension. This study evaluated disease knowledge and attitude, as well as selected self-care and sociodemographic factors among patients with hypertension. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among outpatients with hypertension in a multicenter study involving three tertiary hospitals. An interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaire was administered for data collection. Data was summarized with descriptive and inferential statistics with the level of significance set at p<0.05. Results: Self-reported medication adherence revealed that majority, 180 (60.4%), had high medication adherence out of 298 that participated. Medication discrepancy was observed among 153 (51.3%) patients, while 131 (44.0%) had high health literacy. Average hypertension knowledge assessment score was 10.89 ± 1.79 out of a maximum obtainable score of 13. Average hypertension attitude score was 52.60 ± 5.49, out of the maximum obtainable of 60. Significant associations observed with patients’ hypertension knowledge were with level of formal education (p<0.001), health literacy (p<0.001) and disease attitude (p<0.001); while patients’ age (p=0.002), level of formal education (p=0.005), and health literacy (p<0.001) had significant associations with disease attitude. Significant associations were also observed between patients’ age and medication discrepancy (p=0.047), medication adherence and age (p=0.046), level of formal education and health literacy (p<0.001). No significant associations were observed between medication discrepancy and health literacy (p=0.192), medication adherence and health literacy (p=0.499), medication adherence and medication discrepancy (p=0.435). Conclusions Disease knowledge and attitude among the patients were satisfactory, and the majority were medication adherent. Health literacy level was average, and a positive association was observed when disease knowledge and attitude was compared with health literacy and educational level.