Perceptions, Attitudes and Self-care Practices on Management of Hypertension Among Hypertensive Patients at Teaching Hospital, Batticaloa District, Sri Lanka

Abstract

Objective: Hypertension is an important public health challenge in both developing and developed countries. It is one of the commonest causes of death in Sri Lanka. The patients’ perception, beliefs and attitudes about management of hypertension have an independent effect on patients’ compliance in adapting their lifestyle behaviors. Thus, the purpose of this study was to describe the adapting self-care practices, attitudes among patients with hypertension. Methods: The cross sectional descriptive study was carried out among 424 hypertensive patients attending medical clinics, Teaching Hospital, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka. Systematic sampling technique was used to select participants. Interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect the information and descriptive statistics was applied using SPSS software. Ethical clearance was obtained. Results: Majority was females (59%) and the mean age of the participants was 60.4 years (SD± 9.6) with 1-5 years duration. More than 65% of patients agreed that ‘Doctors listen and concern their problems’. More than half of the participants also agreed that ‘Doctors clearly explain their condition’ while majority agreed that ‘I can manage my disease’. About 92.0% have reported that they have not checked their blood pressure at home. Majority of participants (88%) agreed that ‘Avoidance of extra salt in their diet is good’. About 33.0% disagreed that ‘Regular physical exercise is essential to control blood pressure’. About 24.0% of participants disagreed that it is ‘Good to have fruits than deserts and sweets’ while less than 40.0% participants disagreed that ‘high blood pressure affects kidney functions, vision, blood vessels, and lead to stroke and ischemic heart disease’. Conclusion: Majority of the hypertensive patients believe that Doctors understand and concern about their disease and have also developed confidence in self-care. Though, creating a short clinic appointment with adequate knowledge need to be encouraged for their adapting self-practices on factors related to patients and physicians